The Corporate Rowing Program finished up for this year culminating in The Great Autumn Regatta in the wind and rain at Sydney International Regatta Centre. The Newington staff crew, aptly named “Slightly Tipsy” won the C-Final in grand style. This is the culmination of four weeks training on Sunday mornings and mid-week sessions before school commencing at 5.00am!

Their dedication paid off! This was real nitty gritty Newington community made up of Non-teaching staff, teaching staff and Old Boys all working well together for a result! Not often do you see a group of Newington staff smiling their heads off whilst shivering their butts off on a Sunday afternoon in Penrith!!

Congratulations to the crew: Cate Lukins, Olivia Cox, Isobel Davis, Stephen Bowden, Helen Bremner, Adam Hellyer, Jane Wynn-Jones, Peter Yates, Karen Meagher and coached by super coach Lachlan Hine (ON ’11).

Mr Simon Pennington
Former Director of Rowing

Here’s an account from one of the rowers, Cate Lukins:

“After spending nearly 50 minutes warming up in the freezing wind and rain we fronted up for our first race only to be told that they had run it early due to the nasty weather conditions so we missed out. We managed to get into the next available race but we were placed in a grade above so there were no smiling faces after this.

But, it ended up being a Cinderella story. While we were all there sweating, rowing, sweating and rowing, I had a sneaking suspicion we’d place, but to win was amazing. I had to be helped out of the boat after the race as my hands and feet had no feeling. But, as you can see, nothing was going to stop me from  climbing the dais.

It was well worth the effort. We’re all feeling a bit lost and deflated now our mission is complete.”