The well-planned Shawnigan Regatta had a "fantastic" run last weekend, according to the school's Head of Rowing, Tim Coy.
There was a bit of a weather delay on Saturday morning, but organizers still managed to get all the races in thanks to some foresight.
"We had Friday night races for the first time maybe ever, definitely in a long time," Coy noted. By Sunday, conditions were perfect, and all scheduled races were run.
"It was sunny and calm, flat water," Coy said. "It was great."
The host school collected eight medals over the weekend: gold in the senior girls and senior boys four, silver in the junior boys four and junior boys lightweight four, and bronze in the senior and junior boys eight, senior boys lightweight four, and by Annabel Irwin in the senior girls single.
In both the senior and junior boys eights, Shawnigan placed
third behind Vic City Rowing Club and Brentwood College. Vic City, now the only club in Victoria, earned the most points in the entire regatta.
"They dominated all weekend," Coy said. "They have so many athletes, they won a lot of events."
The weekend included a tribute to former Brentwood Head of Rowing Tony Carr, who was attending his 50th Shawnigan Regatta. Carr was given the honour of presenting medals to the winners of the highest-profile events, the senior boys and girls eights.
"He's a Brentwood guy, but it's still cool that it was his 50th," Coy said.
Along with their rivals from Brentwood, the Shawnigan rowers are now gearing up for the national championships in St. Catharines, Ont., in June. Shawnigan plans to send 35 athletes to the big event.
"The kids will just keep training for that, and hopefully we'll get some results there," Coy said.