Bairnsdale Rowing Club’s annual Head of the Mitchell regatta last weekend saw more than 100 finely tuned athletes take to the waters.
On Saturday a variety of boats competed in three and five-kilometre time trials in idyllic conditions, with the longer version conducted in the morning and the shorter format in the afternoon.
Gippsland Grammar enjoyed a few early wins before Melbourne’s Powerhouse Rowing Club came home with a commanding margin in the mixed masters quad category.
The highlight of the morning was a Gippsland Grammar duo winning the male A-C double (two rowers) category, and also finishing with the fastest time on the day for the 5km course, unadjusted for handicap.
The afternoon session started again with Grammar dominating the river with five golds and ended with the male masters single sculls with Melbourne University taking out the category.
Bairnsdale was proud to have three of its newer rowers compete in their maiden regatta, in the female A–C double scull category, Jillian McKenna and Margereth Villa gave a very good account of themselves, as did Brigette Goodacre in a composite crew participating in the female masters quad category.
Following the final race, the medal presentation took place with club president, Tomos Clark, and club captain Lynne Broad presenting medals to all first-place finishers.
A warmdown dinner was held on Saturday night, with Sunday’s festivities more low key, including yoga and crews frocking up for Ovarian Cancer Research.
If you would like to get in on the rowing action, Bairnsdale Rowing Club will be providing a Learn To Row program, commencing from November 2, with more information available by contacting the club.