SUCCESS breeds success and that’s exactly why the Loreto Mandeville Hall rowing team is back in Warrnambool this week.
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Senior coach Mark Dwyer said the 29-member rowing squad would spend six days in the city fine-tuning preparations for state and national rowing campaigns.
The college came to Warrnambool last year and even though the girls didn’t hit the water for three days due to floods, they finished first and third in the coxed quads at the national titles and had five rowers selected for the under 17 state team to tour New Zealand.
Mr Dwyer said the girls had hit the water this week, with additional land-based and beach sessions all part of a hectic six-day camp.
“We all do it because we love it. The girls are all in a great frame of mind,” he said.
“The girls are in years 11 and 12 — 16 or 17 years old. We’ve been doing the camps for a decade and previously went to Nagambie, but it can be too hot and there are a lot of other school rowers there.”
Mr Dwyer said the beauty of training on the Hopkins River was that apart from water skiers, the girls almost had the river to themselves.
“The skiers have been very courteous and aware of our rowers,” he said.
“We had great success last year. The senior program was the most successful in Victoria, finishing first and third in the coxed quads.
“After success like that we wanted to come back.
“We were very happy about the hospitality we received in the city last year. We were looked after. Everyone seemed to know we were the rowers in town and we felt very welcome.”
The squad arrived Sunday night to train daily on the Hopkins River and are based at the Warrnambool Ski Club.
