Top Western Cape Performing Club
Image #1: First Coxed Four gunning for 5th Place!
TIC Report - Bradley Smith:
Last weekend's SA schools rowing champs at Roodeplaat were a fantastic success. Despite the hot weather, the rowers put in a remarkable performance and had an extremely successful weekend. Each crew achieved a place in at least an A final, which is a testament to their hard work and dedication. The team was rewarded for their efforts with four medals in total, including one gold, one silver, and two bronze.
The rowers' commitment to their sport and their team spirit was evident throughout the competition, and they should be proud of their outstanding achievements. Congratulations to all the rowers, parents and coaches on an excellent weekend of rowing.
Image #2: Goodbye to our Senior Opens - From left to right: Jett Bacher, Bradley Calow, Joseph Power, Joshua Traut & Didier Marx.
First Team Report - Bradley Smith:
The first rowing team had a great experience as they went up 9 days earlier for acclimatization. Despite juggling work and rowing, they enjoyed a fantastic time. The weather was stunning and the boys learnt a great deal while developing a significant amount. The results at the SA schools rowing champs were outstanding, especially considering where the opens had started out. Achieving a place in the A final in the pair, 5th overall, and an A final for both fours was phenomenal. Even though the 8 missed out on the final, they were complimented on their overall improvement by all clubs. Congratulations to the team for their hard work and dedication.
Results:
JM/BU19 2-: 5th Overall. Didi Marx; Jett Bacher
JM/BU19 4+: 5th Overall. Didi Marx; Jett Bacher; Sebastian Cheminais; Joshua Traut; Joshua Traut
JM/BU19 4-: 8th Overall. Bradley Calow; Gage James; Ben Hendrikse; Jack Hartman
JM/BU19 1st 8+: 9th Overall. Joshua Power; Sebastian Cheminais; Didier Marx; Jett Bacher; Bradley Calow; Gage James; Jack Hartman; Ben Hendrikse; Joshua Traut.
Big thank you to all the support from the parents and other coaches.
Image #3: U16's finding the catch!
U16 Report - Christopher Hale:
The culmination of the season - SA Champs is a dramatic and fitting end, especially for this year's u16 age group. The introduction of two new athletes and the absence of one experienced rower leaving meant that the 8+ and coxed four were on the back foot in the second half of the season and so shown in our results in both these boats. Great performance in the heat saw our u16 8 competitive but unfortunately, we did not translate that performance in the final.
The small boats were more positive with both Matt Maurel and Jack Breslin closely missing out on the scull final with not much time in these boats. Veer and Viggo raced hard with grit and determination but unfortunately did not make the final - similar to Cameron and John we missed out on a potential medal, based on previous results, due to a stomach bug.
The coxless four did exceptionally well, winning their race by 3.5 seconds and way ahead of the rest of the field. These athletes have been invited to compete in Western Cape Trials based on this incredible result.
Both Dannielle and I are so proud of this age group, in how they have committed to training since July, through exams and boatrace, during their holiday and to finish off on such a positive note - even though not all results were what was hoped for. Well done and enjoy the off-season!
Results:
JM/BU16 1x: 14th Overall - Matthew Maurel & 10th Overall - Jack Breslin.
JM/BU16 4+: 8th Overall - Viggo du Plessis; Calum Darnell; Christian Gloyne & Veer Daya
JM/BU16 4-: 1st Place. Jack Breslin; Cameron Redfern; John van der Watt & Matthew Maurel.
JM/BU16 8+: 7th Overall. Nico Schreuder; Jack Breslin; Cameron Redfern; John van der Watt; Matthew Maurel; Viggo du Plessis; Calum Darnell; Christian Gloyne & Veer Daya
Image #4: U15 Oct at the start!
U15 Report - Simone Corriea:
This past week has been full force ahead in the preparation for the final stretch of the rowing season. The nine U15 boys who got selected for this regatta were the top-performing athletes of the bunch, but the competition between the age group was immense, making the selection process a tough one for the coaches! Our crews were able to have a successful rowing camp at Misverstand Dam, the weekend before the biggest regatta of the season, SA Champs! This camp was very useful to help us polish off and refine all that the boys had learned over the season so that we could go and race to our best abilities.
We left for Roodeplaat Dam, our national rowing waters, on Wednesday the 1st of March. We arrived safely and buzzing for our weekend to come. The boys had trained extremely hard and diligently all season for this one regatta, where all schools from across the country come together to race each other and determine the best of the best. These boys, on Thursday up in Pretoria, were able to bond as a team and if I quote from them ‘found the speed’. This was exactly what us as coaches wanted to hear from them and knew that the crew was ready to race… Watching the boys come down the course, it was so exciting to watch and see how much they’ve learnt over the season - they truly did race their best race, and we as coaches could not be prouder! We came home with some fantastic results :
JM/BU15 1x: 10th overall - Jordan Planting
JM/BU15 4x+: 17th overall - Luke Ratcliffe; Angus Bromley; Nicholas Sedgwick; Finn Moran; Cox: David Traill &
6th Place - Jordan Planting; Stuart Hudson; Theodore Forsyth; Kai Bacher; cox: Matthew de Jager
JM/BU15 8x+: 4th overall - Luke Ratcliffe; Stuart Hudson; Angus Bromley; Kai Bacher; Finn Moran; Theodore Forsyth; Nicholas Sedgwick; Jordan Planting; Cox: Matthew De Jager
Image #5: U14 Oct all eys in but one.
U14 Report - Georgia Watson:
The u14's first SA Champs was nothing other than exceptional. The boys had their first training session at Roodeplaat Dam on Wednesday, where they experienced the madness and rush that Gauteng schools bring to the water, as well as had a look at the very intimidating race course that is quite different from Zeekoeivlei.
Friday consisted of sculls where Ben Redfern brought home Bishop’s first medal of the regatta in the sculls after he put up a good fight in the final for a bronze.
On Saturday the boys competed in the Octopule and double. The boys had a tough final this day after the u14 octopule final was called for a re-row. Even though the boys were tired and frustrated, they did not see it as a loss but rather another opportunity to do better. They put up a massive fight against St Johns and St Benedicts in the last 250m of the race and were able to secure a well-deserved 2nd place. This was definitely a highlight of my coaching career and I am very proud of how the boys handled the situation. They did not let such a frustrating re-row ruin their victory.
On Sunday the boys competed in the quads and u15 double. Our double had their best race this day and were able to beat u15 crews who have a whole season of experience over our u14 boys. Our quad put up a big fight in the final where they gave their all and brought home the u14’s third and last medal of the regatta.
I am exceptionally proud of this age group and how far they have all come since January camp. They have shown the other schools what they are truly made of and I am very excited to see what Bishops Rowing produces in the future with such a determined group of boys.
JM/BU14 1x: 3rd Place - Benjamin Redfern
JM/BU14 2x: 6th Overall - Luke Traut & David Trail.
JM/BU14 4x+: 3rd Place - Sam Buda; Benjamin Redfern, Gabriel Elsley, Edward Potgieter & Yazeed Lalkhen (cox).
JM/BU14 8x+: 2nd Place - Daniel Bowers; Jesse Morgan; Benjamin Redfern; Gabriel Elsley; Edward Potgieter; Adam Carter; Sam Buda; Roman Waltman & Yazeed Lalkhen (cox).
Image #6: Finish Line.