Solid runs at championships

24 February 2010

BY DEAN MILLARD

PORTLAND’S two whaleboat teams performed solidly at Sunday’s Australian Whaleboat Racing Championships in Warrnambool.

The men’s team, Portland Whalers, put in a credible performance to win its opening heat over the 1000-metre course in a time of 6:04.28, however their time was a little slower in the second heat when rowing against the powerful Warrnambool Surf Club side and USA team BAWRA, with the Warrnambool team winning the heat in 5:39.8.

The times from the two heats were then added together to get the three fastest qualifiers for the final, with Portland finishing in fifth place overall.

Warrnambool Surf Club would go on to win the Australian title, with BAWRA finishing second and local Warrnambool team Salty Sea Dogs third.

The USA women dominated their final, with Merri-can Whalers first across the line, Row’d Warriors second and local side Viqueens third.

Portland’s women’s team, Whalers Bluff, rowed strongly but was not able to match it with the more experienced teams at the top of the rankings.

The USA was again victorious in the mixed event, with Merri-can Whalers first, Row’d Warriors second and local side Sungold Labrats third.

The USA would also win two of the three international challenge races, the women’s and mixed crew races, while the Warrnambool Surf Club won the men’s event.

Portland teams organiser Gordon Stokes said both Portland teams had grown in enthusiasm for the sport following the competition and planned on continuing to train in preparation for future events.

“Both teams thought it was fantastic,” Stokes said.

“We certainly haven’t been put off by it, we didn’t win or even come close to winning, but everyone is keen to continue training and try and put in an event in the Portland Upwelling Festival in October.

“We are going to continue training and probably take on more people who want to put in a team.”

Stokes said both team’s aim had simply been to row competently at the event given almost everyone in the crews were inexperienced rowers.

“Our aim wasn’t to try and win or anything it was just to row with some reasonable ability and timing and style, as all new rowers, aiming for timing is what it is all about.

“If you haven’t got that strength and ability is fairly useless.”

He said plans to hold a whaleboat race in Portland as a part of this year’s Upwelling Festival in October were coming along well, with Stokes saying the race would recognise an important part of Portland’s history.

“It hasn’t been decided yet but I believe the events committee is getting organised and we have been pushing it.

“I believe we will have some sort of an event, a demonstration if not a race.

“We have to have some organisation which would auspice the event and using their public liability insurance.

“It is a risk management thing and I would say once that is satisfied it would proceed.

“It is an associated event, the upwelling attracted whales and the whales attracted whalers.

“We are not celebrating death here we are celebrating history and whether it be right or wrong from today’s standard we think it is worth promoting our past.”