Crews converge for Barwon Regatta
Barwon Rowing Club crew members Ruby Tayha, Bek De Grandi, Kerri Avard (front), Jenna McCartney, Bec Ballard, Vickie Gillett, Ally Elliott, Megan Cole, and Nik White in front of their clubhouse on the Barwon River. Photos: VINNIE VAN OORSCHOT
ROWING season on the Barwon River officially starts this weekend when the 143rd Barwon Regatta takes centre stage.
The annual two-day meet, running over both today (Saturday, January 27) and tomorrow (Sunday, January 28), serves as an important lead-up event to the school rowing season and for Masters competitors taking part in the State and National Championships.
Rowing Geelong president Sam Elliott said there has been linear growth at the Barwon Regatta since coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic and is again expecting a large attendance in 2024.
“All of our regatta’s last season on the Barwon River attracted more competitors than the previous year.
“Rowing Geelong and Rowing Victoria have looked at where we can grow participation further and that seems to be with school and masters’ rowing.
“We’re very happy this year to be able to offer a full range of school events for both boys and girls on Saturday and a full range of club and masters events on Sunday.”
More than 1,750 rowers took part in last year’s event competing in more than 100 events over both days.
Barwon Rowing Club co-ordinator Anita Whitehouse said 2024 promised to be an exciting year for the club with an influx of new athletes joining the club in recent months.
“We’re super excited, we have lots more kids and adults this year, we have heaps of entries, something like 30 entries on Sunday alone – that’s a massive growth for the club.
“The club is really alive this year, we’re looking forward to this weekend, both days, particularly on the Sunday where there will be a lot of Barwon entries.”
The Barwon Regatta has been held in Geelong since 1876 and is a major part of the Geelong sports events calendar with assistance from local Council and the water management authority.
“We couldn’t host the regatta without our partners the City of Greater Geelong, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and Rowing Victoria,” Elliott said.
Racing started this morning at approximately 8am and will again on Sunday concluding at about 5pm on both days.
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