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BALLARAT High School\u2019s rowing leaders are ready to prove themselves, approaching Head of the Lake on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Competing against the pool of Ballarat Associated Schools on Lake Wendouree, Director of rowing Rob Simmonds said the club\u2019s Open Girls and Boys First crews have been \u201cimpressive\u201d in the lead up to the iconic annual two-kilometre races.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoth crews have had great attitudes and commitment to their training,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe girls have been sent some big challenges. They\u2019ve met, if not exceeded their training with a no-fuss attitude and done more work than last year. They\u2019ve responded well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coxed by Tanika Smith and coached by Glenn Kallio, Simmonds said the young women are mindful of one another under pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey know if they\u2019re hurting, it\u2019s for their teammates.\u201d<\/p>\n
The \u201clads\u201d are also a tight-knit group, enjoying their leadership role in the shed, but still driven to achieve success.<\/p>\n
Coxed by Fraser Perkins, who will make his Head of the Lake debut, the five are especially inspired by their coach, Patrick Hawkes.<\/p>\n
Hawkes was part of Ballarat High School\u2019s winning Head of the Lake crew in 2014, which set the current race record of 6 minutes and 39 seconds.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone needs a goal. They\u2019ve got a positive benchmark and it was only a few years ago that that happened,\u201d Mr Simmonds said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they have a red-hot crack on the day and weather conditions are kind, you can get the job done. If anyone\u2019s going to break our record, we\u2019d like to.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2014 time is written in various spots around the boatshed on whiteboards, the fridge and mirrors, reminding this year\u2019s cohort of athletes of their potential and club history.<\/p>\n
But BHS\u2019s rowing future is looking just as strong and exciting as its past.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough the shed, there\u2019s lots of brand-new rowers and I think it\u2019s fantastic that a lot of new students have put their hand up,\u201d Mr Simmonds said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of those new students have made it into some pretty high crews, so it\u2019s great attracting new students to the sport, maintaining 21 crews this season.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/02\/A02I5632-for-web-200x300.jpg\")
\u201cWe\u2019ve all being rowing for a really long time, so it\u2019s about putting the years of work on display,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re having a shot at breaking the 29-year drought that the girls have had at our shed.\u201d
Tara was part of the 2019 Open Girls Seconds crew.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/02\/A02I5633-for-web-200x300.jpg\")
\u201cIt comes down to how hard we\u2019re willing to work and how much we want it,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019ve all been working really hard, we want to show what we\u2019re made of.\u201d
Nicole was an Open Girls Seconds rower last year.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/02\/A02I5631-for-web-200x300.jpg\")
\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to a good performance, all getting into the same mindset and rhythm we know we can execute.\u201d
Jenna has progressed from the Open Girls Seconds crew in 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/02\/A02I5630-for-web-200x300.jpg\")
\u201cI think that we\u2019re always underestimated, so I just want to surprise everyone,\u201d she said.
Kaitlin has also moved up from the 2019 Open Girls Seconds crew.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/02\/A02I5634-for-web-200x300.jpg\")
\u201cI know the girls can do this,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ll be getting them in a positive mindset because when we know we can do it, we perform much better.
Tanika coxed the Year 10 Seconds crew in 2019.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/02\/A02I5625-for-web-scaled-e1582074687570.jpg?_t=1582074767\")
\u201cI want to see what we can prove, because we\u2019re physically a smaller crew,\u201d he said.
Zac has come from the 2019 Open Boys Seconds crew.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/02\/A02I5624-for-web-e1582074663727.jpg?_t=1582074767\")
\u201cI\u2019m looking forward to seeing how we match up against the other schools,\u201d he said.
2020 is Alex\u2019s second rowing season in the Open Boys First crew.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/02\/A02I5626-for-web-e1582074705743.jpg\")
\u201cI want to cross the line on the day and know we\u2019ve worked as hard as we can,\u201d he said. \u201cFirst or last, doesn\u2019t really matter to me, as long as we had a good row and we all worked hard.\u201d
Jack has tested himself to progress from the 2019 Open Boys Fifths crew.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/02\/A02I5627-for-web-e1582074722722.jpg\")
\u201cIf we all row well and together on the day, we\u2019re in with a chance,\u201d he said. \u201cThe boat will not move as fast if we\u2019re not together. Togetherness is the race.\u201d
Jack was previously in the 2019 Open Boys Seconds crew.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/goldenplains\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2020\/02\/A02I5628-for-web-e1582074744351.jpg\")
\u201cHopefully I\u2019ll steer the boat straight,\u201d he laughed. \u201cI know how hard they\u2019ve worked all season. I\u2019m looking forward to seeing what the boys can achieve, and making sure they\u2019re not leaving anything on the course.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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