PUSHING THE LIMIT
A PUNISHING pre-season training camp has mentally prepared the The Southport School First VIII for a shot at glory this GPS rowing season.
The squad members were pushed to their limits with three sessions a day across the Australia Day long weekend.
Harrison French, the 2019 boat captain, said the intensity was unlike anything they had experienced.
“It was honestly the most challenging camp I’ve ever taken part in and I’m sure the boys would back me up on that if they were here,” French said.
“It got a bit emotional at times. (At) one of the trainings I just cracked.
“It was very intense but we got through it and since then we’ve come together as a crew.”
After training non-stop since September, French has been counting down the hours until his crew could begin their charge for backto-back Head of the River titles.
“We’ve done long hours and a lot of kilometres down the Nerang River so we’re all very keen to start racing,” he said. “Our goal is to win and back it up from last year’s win but we also want to come together as an eight and give it the best shot.”
The former triathlete hopes his leadership style can propel his crew to success this year.
“I really want to get the most out of the boys so I do demand a lot,” he said.
“If there’s something going on in the boat that I don’t like or that’s going to affect it I tell them how to change and improve.
“If I lead that way, we can get all the little things right and come out on top at the end.”
French expects long-time rivals Nudgee College to be around the mark again this season.
TSS beat the Brisbanebased school by 0.9 of a second in 2018 after falling just short the year before.
“We’ve done a lot of training but we don’t know what the other crews are capable of,” French said.
“We’re feeling positive but we don’t know what to expect.”
Irrespective of their performance, French and his crew are set to join TSS’s rich sporting history when they represent the school’s premiere rowing crew today (12.40pm) at Wyaralong Rowing Centre.
“It’s an honour to represent the First VIII,” he said.
“I’m stoked to be able to have this opportunity and the rest of the boys feel the same way.”
IT WAS HONESTLY THE MOST CHALLENGING CAMP I’VE EVER TAKEN PART IN
BOAT CAPTAIN HARRISON FRENCH