Distance: 1,500m
Conditions: Excellent racing conditions on a fully buoyed course. Calm water with a very slight cross breeze.
Comments: Fantastic racing in almost perfect conditions for both the Boys and Girls 1st Novice 8+ crews. The boys' race was a thriller from start to finish. Shrewsbury went out hard and led through the first 500 before being retrieved by both Duxbury & St. John's. Duxbury moved out to a length lead over SJ until the 1,000m mark where the St. John's boys found another gear and moved back on Duxbury, seat by seat. Pushing each other to the line Duxbury held on for the win over a fast-finishing St. John's, crossing the line just a canvas behind. The girls' race was a two-boat tussle down the lake, each crew edging into the lead a number of times. The bowball-to-bowball battle continued past the 1,000m before Duxbury made their move, taking open water and pushing to the line. Many thanks to the Duxbury athletes and Coaches for traveling to Lake Quinsigamond as guests of Shrewsbury & St. John's. The mutual respect, sportsmanship and camaraderie on display by these Varsity athletes of tomorrow, assures us that the future is bright.