Rowers visit the Riverland, look forward to regional rowing centre's opening
As the last touches are put on Murray Bridge's regional rowing centre, three members of the local club have had a successful trip to Berri.
This post was contributed by Bernadette O’Neil of Murray Bridge Rowing Club.
The Riverland Rowing Regatta was held on the weekend of December 5 and 6 by Berri Rowing Club under strict COVID-safe regulations and challenging weather conditions.
Three rowers from Murray Bridge Rowing Club – two 17-year-olds and a masters woman – competed.
Daisy Maddaford and Amelia Duval competed in the third and second-grade women’s double scull events.
Neither had previously rowed the Berri course and, though apparently coming first, failed to finish in the third grade double as they did not cross the actual finish line.
They greatly improved on Sunday when they lined up for the second grade double scull, a 2000-metre event.
They came fifth in a respectable time of 10 minutes and 31 seconds.
The event was won by an older, more experienced pair from Adelaide Uni in 9:34.
Both girls also competed in the third grade and second grade single scull events, Daisy coming fourth and fifth respectively and Amelia second and third.
Coaches Ben Porte and Peter Newell were very pleased with their skill development, especially given that they were stepping up a grade, they dealt with a difficult course and challenging conditions, and their events were close together so they had little recovery time.
The third competitor was Bernadette O’Neil, who came third in the masters women’s single scull and fifth in the third-grade women’s single scull, 50 seconds behind the winner.
Newell gave encouragement, acknowledging that “conditions did not suit lightweight rowers”.
The next regatta for Murray Bridge rowers will be held at West Lakes on January 16 before the much-anticipated opening of the Murray Bridge Regional Rowing Centre on Friday, January 29 between 6.30 and 9.45pm, followed by the annual Murray Bridge regatta on Saturday, January 30.
You can help keep local stories like this one free for everyone to read. Subscribe to Murray Bridge News today and support your locally owned news outlet, plus get access to exclusive stories you won’t find anywhere else, for just $5 a month.
