SPORT
Head of the River 2017
“Give yourself fully to your endeavors. Decide to construct your character through excellent actions and determine to pay the
price for a worthy goal. The trials you encounter will introduce you to your strengths. Remain steadfast… and one day you will
build something that endures; something worthy of your potential.”
– Epictetus, Roman Teacher and Philosopher 55-135 A.D.
Saturday 18 March 2017 is not a date
that will be easily forgotten by any
Guildford Grammar School rower. After
a season hampered by the river in flood
and challenges for all crews, the Guildford
Grammar School rowers had demonstrated
real courage and commitment to their
training and each other, arriving at the
final regatta well prepared for the day’s
challenges.
The regatta began exceptionally well with a
win in the first event of the day, the 9E quad,
who demonstrated the depth and quality of
the newest members of our rowing team.
Congratulations to this very talented crew,
Jordan Bushby (9Be), Lachlan Cross (9Sc),
Aidan Sakich (9St), Ben Chapman (9Sc)
and William Kail (9St), and coaches Ashton
Brown (Sc 09-13) and Jay Mummery. The
remaining Year 9 crews demonstrated some
excellent racing skills and the experience of
this first Head of the River will stand them in
good stead as they grow and develop in the
coming years.
The remainder of the regatta proved to be
challenging for a number of crews, with
breakages and disappointments in some
key events. Real courage was shown by a
number of crews, who in spite of early upsets
in their races, completed the course with
commitment and determination.
The final race of the day, the 1st VIII
Challenge Cup event, will however be
the race that is remembered best by all
Guildfordians. This crew came to the regatta
as the quiet favourites, winning every
regatta in the lead up to Head of the River.
After an excellent and aggressive start the
crew pulled ahead of the other schools.
It was soon clear that both the Christ
Church and Trinity crews were going to put
everything on the line to reel in the Guildford
rowers. In the middle stages of the race the
Guildford crew increased their lead, rowing
with relaxed rhythm and style, drilled over
the course of a season together. In the last
part of the race it became apparent that the
final contest would be between the Trinity
and Guildford crews, with a huge surge from
Trinity in the final 500m of the race. With the
tenacity and character for which this group
have become known, the Guildford crew
withstood the challenge with an answer of
their own, propelling themselves over the
line with half a canvas to spare, winning the
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