Scotch College

The feeling inside the boat

Few will ever experience the feeling of being in the boat of a winning Head of the River crew. In these few paragraphs I will attempt to enlighten you on the feelings and emotions that run through the boat during the race.

At the start of the race the feeling is a mixture of nervous tension and excitement, while you try to remain composed. As you attempt to focus on the same things that you have done a million times over in training, you keep telling yourself that you don't have to do anything different. The flag goes down and everyone is concentrating on getting out cleanly and very quickly. The first 25 strokes are building up the boat speed, and as you cross through the 250m mark the crews are even, your lungs are already screaming for air and you haven't had time to even think about what is going on. The next part of the race is consolidating a good rhythm in the boat. Ross, the cox, begins to tell the crew that Geelong Grammar is making their move. 'Don't panic', you keep saying in your head and the focus remains in your boat.

Through the 750m mark the legs are now burning, with the build up of lactic acid. Geelong is almost three-quarters of a length in front and it is now that you have to make your move. You have not trained for 11 months to come second!

As you push to go faster and faster, building for the line, your body is screaming to stop. With 400m to go you are engulfed in the crowds huge roar which takes the attention away from the pain.

We have almost caught Geelong and it is now a question of whether they can hold on or whether can we surge past. Our superior strength shines through and the latter prevails. The boat picks up speed and you have the sensation of flying at a phenomenal rate towards that line.

The boat sings a sound of speed and as the bell rings it is hard to believe that it is over and more importantly that you have won. Emotions come flooding in of elation, relief and satisfaction. The pain does not exist when you win - the best place to watch a boat race is in the boat that's out in front!

Cameron McKenzie McHarg

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From the river bank

As the 'Drew Ginn' left the shadow of the Harrison Bridge, and the commentator read the names of the first crew, we all knew that the Head of the River belonged to Scotch.

The tension of four minutes and fourteen seconds as our boys skilfully overtook Geelong Grammar, turned to elation and cheers as they rowed towards the finish.

Rowing is not only about technique, fitness and strength, but commitment, team spirit and the determination to compete at the highest level. It embraces the lives of parents and families as well as the rowers and coaches. Driving to 6 am training sessions on the river, breakfast rosters, weights, pasta diets and regattas every weekend dominate December to April each year.

Rowing parents not only value the physical and personal development of their sons, but the strong friendships formed during the season on the riverbank, and the opportunity to be a part of the great rowing tradition at Scotch.

Mrs Jane Trembath