OARSOME TEAMWORK
St Hilda’s rowers are this week competing in the Sydney International Regatta where they are determined to leave their rivals in their wake DOZENS of Gold Coast students are taking to the water today as they compete in the Sydney International Rowing Regatta.
Among them are 15 students from St Hilda’s School, who make up three rowing crews, along with several professional rowers and former students.
The event is Australia’s biggest rowing event, featuring hundreds of competitors.
The school’s rowing director Adam Harrison said he hoped to see his team bring home many medals this year.
“I think across St Hilda’s and The Southport School we definitely have a few medal winners," he said.
“We’ve got some very good young talent coming through, which should lead to a very good 2019 and 2020 season.
“Last year we had the school’s best ever rowing season and when the girls are winning they want to do it.
“When the girls are seeing them win they get excited and see that it’s a real investment ... they’re definitely signing on with more frequency.”
Rowers and St Hilda’s School graduates Jessica Scott and Leukie Smith last year represented Australia with two other teammates at the World Rowing Junior Championships.
They’ve had an impact on many of their juniors, including Year 10 student Grace Crowther, who has been rowing for just three years.
“I remember when I first met the older St Hilda’s girls when I was in Year 8 at the BSRA Indoor Rowing Championships,” she said.
“They were so nice talking to the younger girls and were very
encouraging, Leukie even helped me with my science homework on the bus.”
For Grace the chance to compete this week came after an anxious wait to learn whether she had been selected for the team.
“I turned 15 years old on selection day and ... when I got to the rowing shed for training, the coach told me I made the crew,” she said.
“It made my day so much more fun and made all the training through the holidays so worth it.
“We are all friends, so it’s even more fun being in a crew that you love.”
The team trains three times a week on the water, along with multiple off-water training sessions.
In an average training session they can row up to 15km.
According to Grace, who couples her in-school practice with a regimen of running and gym workouts, the wins outweigh the hard work.
“When you win, it’s kind of a shock at first, we can’t believe we’ve done it,” she said.
“It solidifies how you feel in a crew so much.
“You feel so together, you have so much love for the sport when you win.
“You look back on a medal and it’s a good memory, you remember that crew and that race.
“I would love to be a professional rower, that would be amazing and a cool experience to go through.
“Let’s see what the future brings.”
The Sydney International Rowing Regatta continues until Sunday.