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2004 ROWPERFECT CHALLENGE SETS A NEW STANDARD
The 4th Rowperfect Challenge was held on Sunday, November 6 in the magnificent Jeanette Buckham Centre at Pymble Ladies College.
The NSWRA and Rowperfect Australia are indebted to the Headmistress, Mrs Gillian Moore, and the College Council for their generosity in sharing this beautiful sports centre. The combination of natural light and fresh
air (courtesy of the lifting glass “walls”), plus plenty of spectator seating (not that the spectators did much sitting due to the great racing on view) and the great sound system with Australian music courtesy of Jet and
Powderfinger (thanks Matt) made for another truly memorable day.
Thanks to all those who entered, your efforts were greatly appreciated; apparently some female spectators commented that heart rates might have been
higher when watching the boys’ events than when racing themselves — something to do with back muscles…? To those who haven’t yet made it along, make a date for next year, we’d love to see you and think you or your crew might
learn a lot and have some fun at the same time
Among many highlights:
- Over 85 individual races were held in just over 4 hours — a record and a tribute to everyone who helped out — thanks Jenny and Deb Monaghan, Rowena Slocombe, Jo and Deb Hendy, Clare and Gill
Campbell, and Nell Duly for time-keeping, coffee, results tabulation and general support.
- Record prognostics were achieved in both the Men’s and Women’s Championships for the second successive year. Tom Ing from St Joseph’s defended his Championship against tremendous opposition from
his crew-mates. Tom’s time of 5:43.7 reduced his own existing record by almost 5 seconds. The winning margin was just 0.3 seconds, from the fast-finishing Patrick McCutcheon, who made up nearly three seconds in the last
500m. Alexandra Handley from Pymble also lowered Emily Creighton’s race record by more than five seconds, to an excellent 6:22 with Tess Gerrand doing very well to finish second less than one month after a tonsillectomy.
- Some sensational races, especially the St Joseph’s No. 1 crew which averaged around 95% prognostic (MJ8+), a tremendous achievement and another record for the Rowperfect Challenge. In the SG4+,
Pymble 4 and Pymble 9 finished just 0.1 seconds apart in the fight for fourth and fifth places.
- Record crew average times in both the Schoolboy and Schoolgirl Fours events, and as has been the case for the past three years, margins were tight. Alex’s Pymble #1 finished just in front in the
SG4+, while the St Joseph’s #1 combination proved too strong in the SB4+.
- Rick McLennan from Grafton, who entered by the internet, won the Masters Men 1000 metre single scull in a strong 3:41.2 Rick must be pretty tough — he also sent in a 2000m time for the Men’s
Open Event!
- The Fly & Die events again provided great entertainment. Tess Gerrand just prevailed in the Women’s, while Spencer Palfreyman got St Ignatius’ on to the winners list with a good effort in
the Men’s. The Coxswain’s 500s were very close — and Jo Hendy’s time was only 1.8 seconds behind Nick Bannister’s, a great effort.
Mark & Gillian Campbell
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