The North Esk men’s group under the coaching of Trevor Barrett and Barry Townsend continued their success winning 10 state champions for the regatta including one women’s title to Philippa Green in the women’s under-23 singles championship.

“We had interesting conditions but the water was flat all the time and we didn’t lose any racing,” Rowing Tasmanian executive officer Rob Prescott said.

“It was a very strong performance from North-Esk and also the Tamar Rowing Club which won six state championships as well with Henry Youl involved in the five under-23 championships and their senior eight which they also won.

“One of the interesting things with the North-Esk and Tamar athletes is that actually do a a lot of off-water and on-water training together as well.

“Very fierce competitors on the water but there is a great level of co-operation as well between the male athletes and some of the female athletes as well  so it was a real success for the North of the state.”

Scotch Oakburn College finished with one championship title in the under-17 men’s coxed four and St Patrick’s College won two with Lili Wrigley winning the under-19 single and rowing to a championship in a Mersey boat in the women’s under-19 pair while Rebecca Bye took out the under-17 single.

The senior men’s eight went to Tamar Rowing Club for the fourth year in a row with the Buckingham Club second and the Tas University Rowing Club third.

One of the best races for day 2 of the regatta saw the North-Esk composite crew win the under-19 men’s championship as the only non-private school competitor/club crew in the race.

“There are eight North Esk boys who go to Launceston College, with one boy from Tamar who goes to St Pats, who will comprise the LC eight which will race at the North-West and All-Schools championships representing LC for the first time,” Rowing Tasmania’s state development officer Grant Pryor said.

“There has never been a LC eight compete before and they are going to be able to serve it right up there to Hutchins and Scotch.”

North Esk Rowing Club were the winners of the state pennant series and also took home the Hydro Cup for the four pennant regattas at Lake Barrington.

“Between the two Northern clubs and throw in the Northern schools – it has been a very successful Neil Buckby state championships regatta for the Northern region at probably one of our largest state championships,” Prescott said.

“There was some great racing and we had Rowing Australia’s para-rowing head coach Gordon Marks down here  and a talent scout from the University of Connecticut who was impressed with the quality of racing and blown away by the facilities at Lake Barrington International race course.”