Sports

Grafton Rowing Club 2021 Regatta set to make waves

Emma Pritchard

More than 70 competitors will make a splash on the Clarence River during the Grafton Rowing Club 2021 Regatta this weekend.

Featuring 47 events including single skulls, double skulls, quads and open skulls, the event is the first Northern Rivers regatta to be held this season and has attracted a pleasing number of entrants from Lismore, Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads, the Lower Clarence and Sydney.

Local students from Grafton and South Grafton High School will also compete, along with students from St Joseph’s College in Hunters Hill on Sydney’s Lower North Shore.

And while the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has prevented several regular competitors from participating in the event this year, Grafton Rowing Club treasurer Don Noble said the club is happy to host the event and welcome competitors and visitors to the region.

“The club is happy with the number of entries we received, and St Joseph’s College are bringing two eights with them, which will be great to see,” he said.

“We’ve received 93 entries and 183 seats, which means the total number of seats in boats during the regatta as athletes will compete in two or three events throughout the day.

“There will be 74 athletes competing in total.”

 With the current forecast predicting showers and a top of 23 degrees on December 5, Mr Noble said a little bit of rain will help flatten the water and provide better race conditions for the regatta.

“We would prefer a nice fine day, but it’s better than holding the event during hot weather conditions,” he added.

Competitors will also race for the Greg Thompson Memorial Trophy, proudly donated by his loving family in honour of the former Grafton Rowing Club life member, who passed away in 2016.

The trophy will be awarded for the fastest time recorded in the Master’s single skull.

The Grafton Rowing Club 2021 Regatta will commence at 8:30am on Sunday.

All competitors and spectators must show proof of Covid-19 vaccination if required.