HEAD of the Lake’s girls crown has belonged to Ballarat Clarendon College the past two years and the girls are hungry to defend their title in a much-heralded return to Lake Wendouree.College girls’ firsts has retained the core of last year’s winning line-up.An entirely new-look boys’ firsts will seek to take College one step further after a runner-up finish in the marquee event last season.The entire rowing squad has been hard at work fine-tuning and seeking to improve its race with each training session and race.Today, The Courier, takes a close look at the Ballarat Clarendon College Boat Race campaign.THE FIRSTSSOPHIE Gibson (three seat) knows what it takes to win the Patterson Shield in the girls’ Head of the Lake. So does Jess Stepnell (stroke), Emily Maher (bow) and cox Tilly Graovac.The challenge will be to dig deep for victory and pull off a College three-peat, this time in the regatta’s homecoming amid centenary celebrations.Cassidy Ewan (two seat) is the crew’s only addition and has enjoyed the added challenge to her race.Gibson said the girls expected tough competition — especially with the added build-up — but her crew had worked hard for this moment.“We know each other well and in training we’ve been looking to see what we can do differently, what we can do to improve,” Gibson said.“There is pressure building as it gets closer but if we learn to deal with that pressure, we can just relax and do our thing.”College has been forced to completely revamp its boys’ firsts for the second consecutive year with last season’s crew all graduated.Captain of boats Sam Seitz (three seat) said his crew had gelled well.Sam Upton (stroke) and coxswain Chris McWilliam step up from the seconds together, Alex Nash (two seat) and Charlie Renney (bow) rowed in the year 10 firsts last season and Seitz has been promoted from the fourths.“We have a good dynamic and a good group of boys,” Seitz said.“We’ve made sure we’ve had a bit of fun in the boat too, making sure we enjoy it, because there’s a fair bit of anticipation about this race.”THE RIVALSCollege has met all its rivals in boys and girls events. Seitz said his crew had been focused on self-improvement and was keen to measure how much they had improved against other BAS Crews.Gibson said all the girls crews had looked good on the water and the race would very much come down to who was best on the day.College girls can expect fierce competition from Ballarat Grammar.It has been a battle between the two for top podium spot the past two decades. College and Grammar were also forced to share the JH Netherway Cup, girls’ overall premiership, last season. Grammar edged out College in the boys’ Head of the Lake last season but expect St Patrick’s College to fight back for the title it held from 2007-2010.THE TRAININGPlenty of water time. College’s marquee crews have been on the water at Lake Wendouree at least four times a week, complemented by a couple of gym sessions on the ergs.The odd weights session has helped with strength and conditions.Seitz and Gibson said there was a notable difference in training and preparations this year with easier access to the lake.More time on the water has helped both crews feel more confident and comfortable in their race strategy.THE FLEETFrom all reports, Seitz said the College junior ranks were in good form.Seitz said junior coaches were pleased with the progress of their charges in training and in race conditions.College girls will be keen to once again be the sole holder of the JH Netherway Cup again, after sharing with Grammar last year, and traditionally and strong on the water.THE SUPPORTOn the northern shores of Lake Wendouree, College’s spit crew will be back where it belongs in full voice.Seitz and Gibson said they knew a bit about their spit crew leaders’ plans — but experiencing what they served up would be something altogether different. This week the schoolyard has hosted a lot of ringers and in-house celebrations to ensure chants are ready to go.“It’s going to be something surreal,” Seitz said.