Elite rowers return for race with meaning

TWO of Ballarat’s greatest sporting exports, rowers Katrina Werry and Lucy Stephan, took to Lake Wendouree last Saturday in support of the next generation.

Both Olympians raced as a pair in the under 21 female coxed fours event at the Wendouree Ballarat JG King Homes Regatta.

They gave the field a 10-second head start, and came in second by the same margin to the Ballarat Clarendon College’s top women’s team.

But for Werry and Stephan, it wasn’t so much about the result as supporting those coming up in the sport.

“This is where it started for us,” Stephan said. “It’s really special for us to come back and race where it all began.”

Werry added, “It is very important for us to give back to the sport that gave so much to us, particularly when we were coming through.

“For us to be able to have these rare opportunities, it is really important to think about the wider community, but is doesn’t happen a lot, the stars aligned for today.”

Despite hailing from traditional rivals, Werry went to College and 2021 Tokyo gold medallist Stephan was at Grammar, the pair are now best friends, living and training together.

Both gave up time at the national squad training camp in Penrith, and surprisingly, it was only Stephan’s third time rowing on Lake Wendouree.

Recently Werry had also been helping guide the rowers from her alma mater.

“I’ve been down to help out, just to give them some ideas and take a look a couple of times, which was pretty special for me,” she said.

“So I’ve developed a bit of a relationship with those girls and I’m really excited, and proud of them, and it’s brilliant to see them out in front by so much.”

Skipper of the winning Ballarat Clarendon College coxed four squad, Ellie McClure, said Werry’s time with the school’s rowers was meaningful.

“It’s just so fun to be able to race against such ana elite crew. They were quite the competition, so lucky we got a bit of a head start on them,” McClure said.

“It’s just so amazing, one of them has a gold medal at the Olympics, so to even come close to them is so cool.”