How Ballarat schools are shaping up ahead of Head of Lake
St Patrick’s College produced a stunning result at the 2024 Head of the Lake and they’re looking to back it up this weekend. See all the athlete profiles of the local crews taking to the water.
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Ballarat’s most prestigious school rowing race is back on Sunday at Lake Wendouree for its 114th running as schools look to add their name to history.
Ballarat Clarendon College is chasing five titles in a row in girls with St Patrick’s College looking for back-to-back in the boys.
If BCC claims the girls crown the school will join Ballarat Grammar as the only other girls team to record such a winning streak.
Five teams will compete in the boys and five in the girls events.
Below we preview each school’s chances and meet the rowers set to compete in the event.
One final crack for St Pat’s crew
St Patrick’s coach David O’Doherty says there is no pressure on his crew as it chases back-to-back Division 1 boys crew titles at the Head of the Lake.
Instead, the team is intent to end their school campaign on a high.
St Patrick’s stunned the Head of the Lake competitors last year not only winning the Division 1 title but winning all open boy events.
It was the first time in 17 years the school had done it.
This year’s squad is made up of one returning member from last year’s winning team, combined with four members from the Division 2 and Division 3 teams last year.
“It’s a full returner boat, they’ve all got an extra season under their belt compared to a first year in the crew,” O’Doherty said.
“It also means it’s their last hurrah, their last go.
“In terms of crew dynamic there’s no one in there thinking there’s next year.
“It’s one and done.”
O’Doherty conceded preparations haven’t been ideal for this year.
“It’s been a bit further off than what we’d like to be,” he said.
“We had a bit of illness over Christmas so the crew hasn’t delivered the speed they are capable of yet.
“Ballarat Clarendon College have positioned themselves again as the clear favourites.”
But underestimate St Patrick’s crew at your peril.
“It’s just about focusing in doing the training as well as we can and allowing the taper and the small adjustments we’ve made to find the speed to bridge the gap and put our best foot forward,” O’Doherty said.
“Our focus on the past couple of weeks is don’t worry about the results, just shift the focus to training and recovering really well.
“Let the results take focus on themselves.”
O’Doherty said St Patrick’s have five crews to win all open events this year compared to six last year.
But the coaching director said it would be incredible if all open events went to the school again.
“Those events really come down to the stars aligning with the cohort.
“We happened to have strong top age seniors and bottom age seniors (last year).
“If you set the expectation to do that every year you’d be chasing lightning in a bottle.
“The only thing you are in control of is your own process in training.”
Meet the Division One crew below.
Lachie Belleville – stroke
He rode two’s last year and despite being in year 12 now he’s a year younger so he rode the quad in under-17 at the nationals. Despite being his first hit out in the open Division 1 at St Pat’s he does have some big regatta experience under his belt. He’s a real asset to have out front.
Henry Reinehr – three seat
His job is to bring the rhythm from the crew last year to support (this year’s crew). He’s in the engine room and needs to lay down the watts.
Charlie Geddes – cox
Not only does he keep the boat straight but he keeps the energy and the mood during training pretty high.
Oscar Farrington – two seat
He’s gained a couple of inches in height and now has the longest levers in the boat. His job is to follow Henry and lay down the power.
James Clark – bow
Quite an established single sculler in his own right. James goes a long way in getting the boat balance set.
Can Loreto go one better?
Loreto College is confident it can end the dominance of Ballarat Clarendon at this year’s Head of the Lake.
The school has been the bridesmaid the past two years, finishing behind Clarendon on both occasions.
Clarendon has won the previous four events with Loretto the last school to win the Division 1 girls title in 2020.
School captain and rower Isabella Rosato alongside rowing captain Meg Lynch are confident the team has done enough in the past 12 months to bridge the gap.
Both have made the rise to Division 1 this year alongside Eliza Dodd and Olive Lanyon with Mia McTigue returning from last year’s team.
“We’ve done really well (in lead up regattas),” Lynch said.
“We’re happy with where we are sitting at the moment.
“The more practice we can get the better to perfect our race plan.”
Rosato said the school was determined to do well for not only themselves but for Loreto.
“We’ve worked hard and got a fierce determination and I think we’re really excited and hope to do the school proud,” she said.
“It’s driving us (to do well) in the race.
“We’re confident with each other.”
The girls revealed the goal was to start well and then try to hold off the opposition over the last 1500m.
But both added the tactics could change depending on what happens in the race.
Loreto College rowing coach Craig Smith said the team was one of the most talented he’s had.
“It is rare to get five such talented athletes together in one crew,” he said.
“Each of them bring a different element to the boat which individually wouldn’t work but together they bring a synergy of teamwork that somehow works to make a boat go fast.
“Whatever happens on race day I know they would have given It 100 per cent and that’s all I can ask for.”
Meet the team below.
Eliza Dodd – cox
Coach says: Eliza is from a strong rowing pedigree and has readily stepped up to the seniors this year with a strong and focused approach to her coxing taking every opportunity that has come her way. She is highly regarded in the squad and has the ability to bring out the best in her crew.
Meg Lynch – stroke
Coach says: Meg has worked extremely hard in the off-season with a clear determination and work ethic to make the open Division 1 crew this year. As our boat captain she has also taken on an active leadership role and is ready for the challenge ahead.
Isabella Rossato – three seat
Coach says: Stepping up from the Division 2 crew last year Izzy brings a strong competitive element to the crew with a hunger and passion to win every race she competes in. With additional leadership roles as school captain she leads by example with a focus on excellence in everything she does.
Olive Lanyon – two seat
Coach says: As a first year senior, Olive has stepped up to lead the group with her physical capability and determination to get the best from herself both on and off the water. Her calm and quiet determination inspires her crew to believe in each other and the task ahead.
Mia McTigue – bow
Coach says: Mia is returning from the Division 1 crew last year so she brings the experience and technical expertise to the crew. She demands high standards from herself and is determined to do Loreto proud in her last season of school rowing.
Youthful side no issue for Ballarat High
Ballarat High School might be fully focused on winning this year’s Head of the Lake but the school also has one eye on dominating next year.
The school will field a youthful boys and girls team for the upcoming races on Sunday, with the aim of winning this year or in 2026.
Last year, Ballarat High finished third in the boys and girls event.
Ballarat High rowing director Rob Simmonds said with only two year 12 rowing students this year the decision was made to invest in the youth.
“We saw it as an opportunity to put younger rowers between the Division 1 and 2 senior crew,” he said.
“You’ve got them for two years.
“You can try to teach more of the basics and get the right culture set in.
“We understand we are bottom age this year, we are young in both boys and girls.
“Hopefully this year is the grounding year and then next year we can have a red hot crack at it.”
Simmonds said as long as the team learnt from this year – win, lose or draw, it will be a positive day out.
And the decision is already having an impact on the girls team.
“They (the girls) are bonding quite well,” he said.
“They’ve transitioned to (coxed four) quite well and are heading in the right direction.”
For the boys the team will welcome back Connor O’Dwyer after he missed last year with a broken arm.
The injury ruled him out late in the preparation and put Rhys Webster in to replace him.
Both are now in the team for this year and Simmonds said O’Dwyer had a point to prove.
“It built the hunger in his belly and he had a massive winter and trained extremely hard,” Simmonds said.
“He’s doing some real quality ergos.
“He’s set an example over the younger boys on what the standards are in training.
“He’ll be saying right boys jump on my back and let’s go.
“The boys could do anything (at Head of the Lake).
“When you have the mindset of that hunger you never know what could happen on the day.”
Meet the teams below.
Girls
Nathalia Jenkins – stroke
Coach says: She was in the first crew last year and her ergo and strength is quite impressive. She comes in with the most experience in the firsts crew and will be our strongest in the boat.
Gemma Reid – cox
Coach says: She has slowly worked her way up the ranks with the cox and is now establishing herself as a good senior cox.
Payton Smith – three seat
Coach says: She is level headed and solid in the boat. Smith keeps things calm and is a very calming influence on the team.
Ashleigh Carnes – two seat
Coach says: She has really worked hard from the summer camp, came out of that well and got herself back into the 1st group. In her last year of rowing, she has really stepped up.
Milly Aitken – bow seat
Coach says: She is super strong and a really good crew mate to have in the group. She’s really good starting in the blocks and a great crew mate to have around.
Boys
Connor O’Dwyer – stroke
Coach says: He’s probably the second fastest ergo rower we’ve had over the last 10 years. He’s set an example over the younger boys on what the standards are in training. He’s hungry (for success).
Jules Jumamoy – two seat
Coach says: He’s relatively new to rowing and picked the technique up really well. He’s established a really good foundation of rowing.
Rick Barber – three seat
Coach says: He is an emerging leader and shows great leadership qualities in the boat. He didn’t row last year and has come back in and stepped in like he hasn’t missed a beat.
Rhys Webster – bow seat
Coach says: He was our year 10 rower who got thrown in the deep end last year. He’s bringing that little bit of experience but he never had that training background. Now he’s got a bit of training under his belt he’s really improving.
Jayden Howden – cox
Coach says: He’s come from year 10 rowing and he’s a multi purpose rower. He’s going to be a good cox but is also a good rower. He’ll be rowing in year 10.
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