Pathways Camp #3

NSW Pathways Camp 3

The third of four Junior Pathway training days was conducted at Sydney Rowing Club on Sunday 10^th December in perfect conditions.

As more clubs and schools become aware of this project, there has been a big sign up of both girls and boys resulting in getting three girls VIIIs and two 4x along with two boys VIIIs, a 4+ and a single sculler all hitting the water.

The crews paddled individually concentrating on drills and skills before lining up side by side for a battle paddle back to the shed with the focus on maintaining that skill level with maximum power on the handle.

After a hearty breakfast supplied by the SRC catering division there was just time for a quick respite before getting into the gym for some testing.

The testing battery conducted on Pathways Camp 1 was conducted again.  With larger numbers of athletes it took a long time, but with more coaches present to assist it wasn’t too bad.  It was good to see the progress that the majority have made since the first testing some eight weeks ago.

International rowers Leah Saunders, Harriet Hudson, Max Brenner, Harry Crouch and Lachlan Stevenson were on hand to share their experiences of how they came into the sport and progressed through club rowing to national representation at junior level.  Harriet talked about the step from Junior to Under 23 and Leah described how she was able to achieve the level to become a full-time athlete at the Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre and attend her first Senior World Championships.  All of them shared insights into how to successfully juggle rowing with school, university, work and social life.

It was a great day with a good atmosphere amongst all the rowers and coaches from across the many schools and clubs.

Rowing NSW would like to thank Jason Baker for the logistical organisation of supplying enough boats, oars and coach boats to make the day run flawlessly along with SRC coaches Donovan Cech and Lachlan Carter.  Also to Gavin Parcsi and Brenner Family  for feeding us all and to SRC President Keith Jameson whose tireless support of young rowers over his 25 years of leadership at the club has seen so many progress to state and national representation.

Thanks to all the other coaches for your input to the day and especially those coaches and parents that travelled from Newcastle and Port Macquarie to attend; we really hope that you got something out of the day.  To Lizzi Chapman from NSWIS for making the day happen, and to the international rowers for sharing their experiences of their journey so far with the group.

The final Junior Pathway training day will be hosted by Sydney University Boat Club on 28^th January 2018 at the Thyne Reid Boat Shed. Expressions of Interest will be invited soon via the RNSW website.