{"id":80557,"date":"2015-02-10T12:43:00","date_gmt":"2015-02-10T10:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/80557\/rowing-fever-in-germiston\/"},"modified":"2015-02-10T14:01:39","modified_gmt":"2015-02-10T12:01:39","slug":"rowing-fever-in-germiston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/sports-news\/2015\/02\/10\/rowing-fever-in-germiston\/","title":{"rendered":"Rowing fever in Germiston"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Victoria Lake Rowing Club, in partnership with the metro’s sports and recreation department, hosted their 108th National Sprints Regatta on January 31 and February 1.<\/p>\n

The regatta is supported by schools, universities and masters rowing clubs throughout the country.<\/p>

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“Due to the national status of the regatta, umpires with national and international qualification status were present to ensure that the day’s events ran smoothly,” said the regatta organiser, Anne Kilian.<\/p>\n

“A recorded number of 853 rowers participated over the two days, of which 583 were men and 270 women.”<\/p>

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“The races were rowed over a course of 1000m, all boat classes and age groups participated in the regatta.”<\/p>\n

The racing events on the Saturday afternoon, January 31, were cancelled due to unsafe weather conditions.<\/p>\n

Races cancelled were rescheduled for the Sunday.<\/p>\n

Crews rushed to get off the water while rain lashed them and the wind pounded.<\/p>\n

MMC Zeni Tshongweni visited the regatta on the Sunday and was treated to a ride on a pilot boat following one of the senior races.<\/p>\n

Tshongweni was welcomed by Kilian and Paul Carstensen, an executive from Rowing South Africa.<\/p>\n

A prize-giving ceremony was held shortly after the regatta.<\/p>\n

“The MMC gave a heart-warming speech at the prize-giving, praising all the participants on their commitment in rowing,” said Kilian.<\/p>\n

“She also gave thanks to the schools which donated equipment and assisted other schools with fund-raisers.<\/p>\n

“Germiston High, in particular, extended their gratitude to St Andrew’s School for Girls for the fund-raising they held; St Benedict’s for the donation of boats and Holy Rosary School for the donation of ergo machines.<\/p>\n

“The prize-giving was the close of a very successful and enjoyable weekend’s racing,” explained Kilian.<\/p>\n

“VLC Rowing Club, and the metro’s sports and recreation department, look forward to hosting the 109th National Sprints Regatta in 2016.”<\/p>\n