WITH strong starts and steely determination, The Armidale School’s four rowing crews shaved eight to 20 seconds off their previous personal best times and one recorded a podium finish, in the penultimate competition for the season on Saturday.
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At the King’s/PLC Regatta at Sydney International Regatta Centre, the TAS First IV came third in the Schoolboy First Four over 2000m, clocking a time of 7:04:52, just one second outside the fastest time recorded by a TAS crew on the SIRC course and 20 seconds faster than their time at the Rowing NSW State championships the week before.
"We were really excited about our time, it was such a huge improvement from last week,” Captain of Boats Sebastian Scott said.
“A result like that so close to the GPS Head of The River opens up possibilities for a podium finish, something that would have only been a dream at the beginning of the season. Being so close to cracking the seven minute mark is another goal that we can aim to achieve."
In the Second Fours event TAS came fifth and were 10 seconds faster, while the Thirds were eight seconds faster and placed seventh, all crews finished ahead of Sydney schools.
In the Schoolgirl Coxed Quad Scull, TAS finished fifth from eight schools. It was the first time the TAS girls had raced the SIRC course, following the cancellation of many State Championship races the previous Saturday due to heatwave conditions.
Weather again played havoc at SIRC on Saturday afternoon, with a massive storm causing an early end to the regatta just as the four TAS crews were marshaling for their second races of the day.
It was the second week in a row the girls’ had been robbed of a race, but they were philosophical about it.
“Maintaining our composure was a challenge, being our first time time racing on a buoyed course with a large crowd, however we persevered through with a strong finish,” Olivia Fenwicke said.
“All of us girls were very pleased with how we raced and are even more excited to compete at the Schoolgirl Head of the River.”
Training continues at Malpas Dam until the season climaxes at the GPS Head of the River on March 18, and the NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River the following Saturday.