Rowing strong to gold, silver and bronze

CLUB NAMED STATE CHAMPS… From left, Shepparton Rowing Club members and gold medal winners in the men’s D grade quad, James Darbyshire, Hamish Kerr, Cameron Boal, Jack Puise and Nicholas Waller. Photo: Supplied.
CLUB NAMED STATE CHAMPS… From left, Shepparton Rowing Club members and gold medal winners in the men’s D grade quad, James Darbyshire, Hamish Kerr, Cameron Boal, Jack Puise and Nicholas Waller. Photo: Supplied.
CLUB NAMED STATE CHAMPS… From left, Shepparton Rowing Club members and gold medal winners in the men’s D grade quad, James Darbyshire, Hamish Kerr, Cameron Boal, Jack Puise and Nicholas Waller. Photo: Supplied.
CLUB NAMED STATE CHAMPS… From left, Shepparton Rowing Club members and gold medal winners in the men’s D grade quad, James Darbyshire, Hamish Kerr, Cameron Boal, Jack Puise and Nicholas Waller. Photo: Supplied.

THE Shepparton Rowing Club hit the water for a fantastic weekend at the State Rowing Championships held on Lake Nagambie recently, with the club rowing their way to a gold, silver and bronze win.

Top results were seen for the men’s D grade quad of Nicholas Waller with Jack Puise, Cameron Waller, Hamish Kerr and coxswain, James Darbyshire. The group combined to comfortably win their heat which put them in the race for medals in the final of six crews.

Karen Eldred from the Shepparton Rowing Club said, “It was going to be a challenging final for the D grade quad as crews from other heats qualified for the final with a 10 second faster heat time.

“Our crew was masterly stroked by Waller to lead the final from the start, going on to win in fine style with the fastest time of the day by a margin of six seconds. Of course they were crowned State Champions and collected a gold medal.”

In the under 17 double scull, James Eldred and Jack Puise got off to a great start, but were unable to keep the pace over the 2,000m and were overtaken by a crew from Essendon who took the gold, with the Shepparton duo holding on to win a silver medal.

The club’s bronze medal was won by Murchison’s James Darbyshire in the under 15 single scull.

“Nancy Cassetta combined with Lydia Todd to compete in the women’s D grade double scull. They had a great row to finish second in their heat and qualify for the final. The final was raced in very quick time and Cassetta and Todd were unable to secure a medal,” Karen said.

“Kerr who is in his first season of rowing placed third in his heat just missing out on qualifying for the final. His time showed great improvement beating his previous best time on the Nagambie course by 16 seconds.

“Boal and Waller combined to have an impressive row finishing fourth in the final in the D grade double scull against some strong crews from Melbourne.

“As a junior rower competing only for the second time, Euroa’s Emily Belcher was in the women’s under 15 single scull improving her time and technique each time she races.”

The club is now preparing for the next event on the Maribyrnong River at the Footscray Saltwater Regatta.