Positive energy to drive St Hilda’s VIII

GENERATING rowing chemistry within a crew that’s only been training together for three weeks is like “cooking in a microwave’’ according to St Hilda’s First VIII coach Stu Patton.

The Brisbane Schoolgirls Rowing Association had to consider cancelling the season due to the threat of COVID-19 but decided to push ahead with a compact four-week season without spectators.

St Hilda’s were also forced to overcome a late coronavirus scare after coxswain Mia Harvey tested negative for COVID-19 but was forced to isolate in the four days leading into the regatta.

“I think we’ll be competitive and the girls can perform to their maximum potential, but there are so many unknowns so I’m purely going off how excited they are to be here,” Patton said.

“It’s like we’ve got our recipe book out. We’ve just mixed the ingredients up and are putting it in the oven, which we usually would have started in May or June.

“We’ve had to be really patient with the girls.

“We had our last session on Friday morning and I walked away thinking about how positive and keen they all are, so they really want it and will do whatever it takes to get there.”

Beyond the three weeks the crew had to prepare, athletes were sent weekly fitness programs to complete during remote learning and St Hilda’s also scheduled weekly virtual meetings.

“We tried to get them running or on the bike, but it was really making it up as you go and we had some of our boarders in the bush lifting rocks and chopping trees down,” Patton said.

“Nothing can compare with rowing in the boat though, so not having that time to row as a crew has been challenging.”

Saturday’s First VIII crew was decided based on a 5km and 2km erg time trial plus a matrix racing system that saw two quads, varying in combinations, fight to be the fastest combination.

Five of the 2020 squad have returned after debuting in the First VIII last season so Patton expects their experience and hunger to drive St Hilda’s Head of the River title ambition.

The Brisbane Schoolgirls Rowing Association’s first regatta starts at 8am on Saturday at Wyaralong Dam, near Beaudesert.

WE HAD SOME OF OUR BOARDERS IN THE BUSH LIFTING ROCKS AND CHOPPING TREES DOWN COACH STU PATTON

Picture: DANIEL SNARE The St Hilda's First VIII crew – (from left) cox Mia Harvey, Amy Taylor, Mia Field, Sophie Coleman, Charlie Milligan, Jemima Powell, Grace Crowther, Clementine Sweetland and Rosie Mayne – during Friday’s final training session ahead of the first BSRA regatta on Saturday.