A GLORIOUS day on Sunday, December 4, saw the River Derwent hosting a virtual armada of 32 boats for the New Norfolk Rowing Club’s Sharland Sculls and Aly Cashion Long Distance Eights.
A staggered start saw the first of six single sculls begin the handicapped race at 10am from the New Norfolk Bridge, followed by a pair and a double, then between them 11 quads and fours, and finally 15 eights. It was a sight to see. The 8.75km course took the boats just past the Norske Skog Boyer mill to turn and come back upriver to finish around the old Black Jetty.
Male and female and combined crews from the Buckingham, Derwent Mercantile Collegiate, Fahan, Friends, Glenorchy, Hobart City High, Hutchins, Lindisfarne, New Norfolk, Sandy Bay, St Virgil’s together with North Esk, Tamar and Ulverstone Rowing Clubs from the north and north-west of the state, showed their skills and stamina on the excellent course.
A wide range of ages competed in all boats including a significant number of masters. One local boat included a very competent disabled rower and did very well. With a couple of minor mishaps and steering errors (and at least one deliberate jump in after finishing the course) all boats were off the water and ready for the presentations at 12.30pm.
New Norfolk Club president Peter Nichols thanked all for their attendance, mentioning those particularly from the other end of the state, and especially the volunteers. He invited Derwent Valley Council mayor Michelle Dracoulis to present medals to the placegetters of the pairs and fours and then the medals, trophies and shields to winners of the major events. Michael Wilson, of Ulverstone, won the Sharland Sculls, and the Aly Cashion Long Distance Eights was won by the Combined Tasmanian University Boat Club crew.
The next major event for the New Norfolk Rowing Club will be the Masters Regatta in May 2023.
