Winter Regatta News

Winter Regattas

The South Queensland School Age Rowing Conference Trophy Regatta (it’s a bit of a mouthful!) was the culmination of a lot of hard work for our schools and clubs that fall outside the BSRA/GPS regatta season. It is a mix of large and small programs that target enjoyment and participation. We lucked out this year with fantastic weather over the course of four regattas where fierce competition took place, particularly in the Open Girls and Boys Quads. Congratulations go to Trinity Lutheran College for their wins in both the Steve Hinchy Trophy (for overall points) and the Rowing Queensland Percentage Trophy.

The further we move into June and July, the action on the Brisbane River ramps up with the annual Brisbane River Winter Series. This year we held four head-to-head style races – two for small boats and two for big boats – on the Yeronga stretch of the Brisbane River. A fan favourite amongst metro clubs, races were hotly contested so for prompt and accurate timing, I’d like to acknowledge our Boat Race Officials and the volunteers that marshalled and lent equipment. To work out a point system for scoring, the number of entries were noted for each club, and each placing in an event was given a score. Divide one against the other and voila, we have a score to reflect the hard work and effort of every club that entered.

Congratulations to our small clubs on their wins: River City Women’s Rowing Club and Dragons Rowing Club and to our big clubs on theirs: Commercial Rowing Club and University of Queensland Boat Club.

Take it North

With both Townsville and Rockhampton both being affected by disappointing and untimely regatta cancellations for a variety of reasons, we’re eagerly looking forward to North Queensland Schools Regatta (August in Townsville) and the Higgins Coatings Queensland State Schools Champs (September in Rockhampton) which will follow the South Queensland Schools Regatta (July at Wyaralong Dam) and the most recent Central Queensland Schools Regatta, held at Bucca Weir in Bundaberg. Whilst it was a little chilly, weather conditions were excellent, racing was hot, and the commentator was on fire. A huge thank you to Bundaberg Rowing Club, the BROs and all volunteers.

By Claire Jansen, Events Manager, Rowing Queensland

*Photo:  Fitzroy River, Rockhampton