Ballarat schools strong at Rowing Nationals

LATE in March, Senior Rowing Crews from a number of Ballarat schools competed at the Australian Rowing Championships held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre.

It was a historic time to be part of the event, with 2019 being the 100th year of the Kings Cup.

Local schools represented included Ballarat Grammar, Ballarat & Clarendon College, St Patricks College, Damascus, Loreto Ballarat and Ballarat High School.

The Ballarat High School Senior Division 1 Girls were solid from the first day of heats with a strong second place guaranteeing them a spot in the semi finals.

In the semi finals, the Ballarat High School girls had another great row securing a spot in the A Final along with fellow Ballarat schools including Ballarat Grammar, Ballarat & Clarendon College and Loreto Ballarat.

With good conditions for the A Final on the Sunday morning, the Ballarat High School girls coached by Glenn Kallio and including crew, Lauren Salter, Darcy McMickan, Ella Glenwright, Ella Lukich and cox Emily Glass had a great start leading out of the blocks and third at the 500m mark.

Unfortunately, they were not able to hold off 2018 champions in Queenwood Grammar who went back-to-back as National Champions in the School Girls Coxed 4 Final.

While Ballarat schools finished outside of medals, the representation was strong; 1st Queenwood Grammar, 2nd Canberra Girls Grammar, 3rd Wesley College, 4th Ballarat High School, 5th Ballarat Grammar, 6th Loreto Kirribilli, 7th Ballarat and Clarendon College and 8th Loreto Ballarat.