Barwon Regatta starts rowing season

ALMOST 2,000 rowing athletes gathered at the Barwon River over the weekend for the return of the annual Barwon Regatta.

The regatta officially started the rowing season for both school crews and club rowers with over 344 races run over the two-day event.

 

 

Rowing Geelong president Sam Elliott said it was great to see a large turnout over one of Geelong’s busiest weekends of the year with the Cadel Evans Road Race and Festival of Sails running as well.

“It’s great to have so many schools and clubs down rowing on the Barwon River here in Geelong this weekend.

“We are one of the oldest and longest running regattas in Australia. The region is jam packed full of visitors for multiple events so it’s great that we can share the weekend alongside them”.

 

 

“This year we’ve been able to build on attracting schools from New South Wales with reigning 2023 National Schoolboy Champions St Ignatius from New South Wales competing.

“Alongside them we had Shore School as well as Newington.

“The Barwon Regatta is not only the choice regatta for the top crews from Victoria but it’s now fast becoming one of the choice regattas for New South Wales school crews in preparation for their school season.”

Major event wins over the two days included St Ignatius from New South Wales taking out the Male School Eight Division One, and Methodist Ladies College earning a narrow victory in the Female School Eight Division One.

 

 

Local school The Geelong College had a commanding win in the Female School Eight Division Four, Melbourne Girls’ Grammar School took out the Female School Coxed Four Division One, while Clarendon College had a win by over a length in the Male School Coxed Four Division One.

Premier local club Barwon earned wins in the Male Masters Eight, Male Masters Coxed Four, Male Master Single Scull, Female Master Coxed Quad Scull, Male Beginners Quad Scull, Male Beginner Double Scull, and Female Beginners Coxed Quad Scull in a terrific showing.

 

 

Rowing returns to the Barwon River on Saturday (February 3) for the Morongo Schools Regatta, with more than 700 competitors entered.