Rowing ‘on water training time’ was quickly making an impact with their rowing technique. Also getting selection right is always challenging in the sport of rowing and it’s important to present a fair and transparent process to the boys competing for a seat in a higher crew. I believe as the season progressed all the boys in Year groups (10 to 12) at least understood what was required to reach the performance targets to move up to a higher crew. RACE SEASON
The weather for the 2014 GPS racing season was once again changeable at best. No-one could predict which side of the course the wind would impact on the most from one week to the next. Everyone is aware Kawana is not a fair rowing course and usually the wind had an impact on the overall set of race results.
forward to watching this age group progress in 2015.
In the Year 11 race program TSS performed really well, just missing out on a 1st place, and all three crews finishing in medal positions. The traditional Old Boys Dinner was once again well attended and the stories from young and old TSS rowers circulated the dinning room on the night. Bruce Wright, an Old Boy First VIII rower, was the Master of Ceremonies and Islay Lee gave the speech to the Open crews on the night. There was great expectation leading into the Head of the River as TSS had gone through the season with a number of wins and looked well placed to be in contention for a top three finish in both the Old Boys Cup and the First VIII race. HEAD OF THE RIVER
At the Junior Head of the River TSS finished up with the unofficial title of ‘GPS Junior Rowing Champions’. In the top seven races TSS did not finish outside the top two places, winning three races and coming second in the other four races. This was a credit to coaching staff and the excellent management skills of the two Junior Coordinators, Daisy Stubberfield and Kim Day. The Year 8s’ regatta took place on the week before the Head of the River and TSS took a large number of crews up to Kawana for their first competitive race of the season. Everyone was surprised by the high quality of the technique demonstrated by the youngest rowers from TSS. Every crew from TSS went through the Year 8 regatta undefeated, often winning by large margins. Well done to Head Coach Charles Robinson and his Year 8 coaching team, I look
Div 5: TSS 2nd Div 4: TSS 1st Div 3: TSS 6th Div 2: TSS 1st Div 1: TSS 4th
On the big day at Kawana TSS started the regatta with some strong performances in the highly competitive Year 10 age group. There is a feeling that some boys do struggle at first with the significant rise in GPS competition from the Year 9 race program to the more challenging Year 10 regatta season. The results from the top six divisions go towards the Old Boys Cup, so it was pleasing to see four of the Year 10 crews finish in the top three places, with the Second TSS Quad and the Fourth Quad winning their races on the day.
Year 11 Eight Race 1 2000m Div 3: TSS 2nd Div 2: TSS 2nd Div 1: TSS 3rd
In the Open series TSS went into the Head of the River ranked ‘number one’ and allocated the middle lane at the start line. Nudgee had just come through a disrupted season, but still looked like the ones to beat with a strong and physical crew. The TSS Third VIII rowed really well and were pleased with their second place at the Head of River. The Second VIII timed their run perfectly and were thrilled to row so well on the day to win a great race. Each year for all First VIII rowers there is considerable pressure to perform well and put in a peak performance. The word had been circulated to go hard at the start, but unfortunately taking the lead early and setting such a fast pace was too difficult to sustain. In the end the First VIII left nothing in the tank and gave it everything, just slipping back the order as the race reached the finish tower. A great season, but not the result the boys had dreamt of back in December 2013.
Year 10 Quad Race 1 1500m Div 8: TSS 3rd Div 7: TSS 5th Div 6: TSS 3rd THE SOUTHPORT SCHOOL SOUTHPORTONIAN 2014
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