Quick quad aims for national title

BALLARAT City Rowing Club will be represented by a young men’s coxless quadruple scull in the under twenty-one division of this month’s Australian Rowing Championships.

Heading to Tasmania’s Lake Barrington for nationals within a few weeks, the crew of teenagers have state gold and bronze medals from the Rowing Victoria State Championship regatta in Nagambie last month.

Placing third in an open-aged race, coach Grant McKechnie said his crew broke their personal best time by 12 seconds, up against Olympic pathway rowers.

The Ballarat City boys are like “lightning,” and could be even quicker.

“The boat we’ve got is strong and robust, but it’s an entry-level Swift. We’ve got a Club A, which is five-plus kilos overweight,” he said.

“Over two kilometres, they’re pushing a lot of extra weight they don’t need, which works out between five and eight seconds difference in pace.

“If you take the minimum weight off our boat, it puts us over the top of the Melbourne University crew that came second, and shoulder-to-shoulder with the Mercantile crew that won.”

Ballarat City has located a second-hand Filippi racing shell in Melbourne. In immaculate condition, they can secure it for $22,000; about $16,000 cheaper than buying brand new.

Currently fundraising to purchase it, the club predict the Filippi will not only “level the playing field” for nationals, but be a worthwhile boost to the Ballarat rowing community.

“Our guys have to be 30-plus metres faster to get their bow ball to their competitors’ bow ball.

“We’re okay with racing in our current boat, but if we can somehow scramble the money together to get the boat this week, then that’s great,” Mr McKechnie said.

“It’s not just an investment in this crew, but Ballarat rowing long-term. These guys have made Ballarat City Rowing Club noticed again… and if we can create a program that’s sustainable, keeps rowers in Ballarat, and rivals big Melbourne clubs, then Ballarat’s another viable option for a look-in from Victorian and national sides.”

The crew will compete in the Australian Rowing Championships under 21 coxless quadruple scull division – “their focal race” – with two of its rowers also having a crack at the under 19 double scull, and one jumping in the lightweight single scull field.

The crew will also try their hand at the club championship coxless four, and the National Sprint open quadruple scull.

Visit the team’s Australian Sports Foundation fundraising page at bit.ly/384EkfT.