Sydney the Balmain Attraction at JB Sharp IV – by Phil Coates
The club enjoyed great success on Sunday at the penultimate JB Sharp regatta of the season. On the treacherous Balmain course crews endured high winds, rough seas and significant boat traffic to emerge in a strong position to win the overall trophy for the series.
A bitter cold met the SRC competitors who, in various stages of preparedness, had gathered in Iron Cove for the Balmain JB Sharp regatta. The cornerstone of the SRC tilt at this year’s series has been the under 16 scullers – Sara McDonald and Tim Trent. Again they got the club off to a winning start in both of their events, with Tim easily accounting for the men’s field while Sara had just a length to spare in her race.
Sydney sent out 4 scullers in the time honoured men’s novice single scull, with the best return coming from Jim Appleton who finished 2nd to a Russian sculler. The women’s quad won by 30 seconds and the other win on the day to Sydney came in the open eights, where traditional rivals Glebe were bested by half a length after a spirited dual over the 1000m course.
There were many entries over the entire program ensuring that the club continued to accrue points through the minor placings, particularly in the novice and junior events.
Going into the final regatta of the series this weekend, SRC stands on the precipice of unprecedented success across the multiple point score trophies on honour. This is a remarkable achievement given the complete failure of the 2015 campaign, in which for the first time in the 2010s the club failed to win a single trophy.
This turnaround in successes must be attributed to Captain Paul.
The final regatta of the series will be held this Sunday on Iron Cove, following which refreshments will be enjoyed at the Leichhardt shed before the presentations are made by Barry Moynihan OAM. All supporters are invited to attend what will undoubtedly be a memorable day for the club.