Rowing Sport
O
n Saturday 27th March 2004, we saw the white racing singlets of the Trinity Rowers ‘shine’ like never before. We witnessed the magnificent ‘blue army’ of supporters erupt into a marathon of war cries and chants that will etch this wonderful day on all our minds for a lifetime. Whilst this day will be rightly remembered as the first time that Trinity College claimed the Hamer Cup and Challenge Cup on the same day, it will fire up many memories for the several generations of the Trinity Community in attendance. To win six races from thirteen starts in such ‘rough seas’ showed both enormous courage and resolute discipline from all the young men who rowed. To describe such a BIG day ‘in a blink’ doesn’t do it justice, but here goes. It began with an all the way win by our gutsy Year 9E Quad. Then several crews had to cop their dramas ‘on the chin’ in dreadful water while being highly placed. From here, crews pulled season best efforts and a wonderful win by the Year 10 Quad to rack up valuable points. Then came stunning wins by the PSA benchmarking 1st and 2nd Quads. Hearts were soaring. Next came the heart stopping but very popular half length victory by the 3rd VIII. Then our brave 2nd VIII resurrected their race despite the fury of the elements, to be a whisker off second place and finally, the trademark ‘storming home’ power display by our victorious 1st VIII.
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All our rowers and coxswains faced the ‘do or die’ challenge that is the hallmark of the Head of the River Regatta. Having been conducted in three different centuries it is jam-packed with history and drama and is definitely not for the faint hearted. Indeed some parents can’t watch it ‘live’; they prefer to see it on video when they know their sons have won! Before the season the Seniors could sense the chance to lead their club to the unique ‘Double-Triple’. That is to win Trinity’s third Hamer Cup (in a row!) and our third Challenge Cup at the 105th Head of the River. The boys’ high expectations, together with the Olympic quality knowledge of George Xouris and the hard work of the coaches and parents, led the club to weld into an irresistible force. A force with spiritual and physical dimensions that was to stun even some of the most hardened observers of PSA rowing. As the youngest club in PSA, these are exciting times to be a Trinity Rower. This season was our most successful Head of the River ever and was marked by many first and significant events. Term Four, 2003 began with winning the PSA Indoor Rowing Championships for the first time. Future Captain of Boats, Rhys Grant also claimed the Overall Champion Individual of the PSA, a Trinity first. Training in all its forms was marked by genuine and deliberate purpose. Team unity was paramount at all times leading to numerous sacrifices
