Sports
The Hardy Cup
Year 12 Friends’ student Will Sargent and his Taz Racing team of Oli Burnell, Ethan Galbraith (Year 10 Friends’ student), Isabella Declerck and Max Cottier (both ex-Friends’ students) recently competed in the Hardy Cup at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron in February. They were the first Tasmanian team to contest the prestigious Hardy Cup which is an Under 25 Grade 3 International Match racing event. The event was the concept of eminent Australian yachtsman Sir James Hardy, a member of the host club, the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.
Twelve teams from clubs in Australia, New Zealand and the USA contested the event. Will, the youngest helmsman in the 2019 Hardy Cup, and his Tasmanian team representing the Derwent Sailing Squadron scored wins against the USA, New Zealand and New South Wales. Not only did Will’s team reach the quarter-finals, but they took the top-ranked New Zealander Nick Egnot-Johnson to a 2-1 duel in their encounter on Sydney Harbour.
After winning three out of ten races in the first round-robin, Sargent then scored four wins to complete round-robin two and qualify for the quarter-finals. Egnot-Johnson went into the quarter-finals at the top of the leader board, having lost only three matches in two round-robins. With an international match racing ranking of 22, the Kiwi chose the Tasmanians, with Sargent ranked 149. Egnot-Johnson won the first ‘flight’, but Sargent levelled the score in the second and was just beaten in the third to go down 2-1. The Tasmanian team then sailed off against the USA team skippered by Charlie Welsh for 7th place which they won 2-1.
As The Friends’ School are current holders of the Australian Schools Match Racing Championship trophy the school is excited to see what this year brings. The Tasmanian and Australian Schools Match Racing Championships are being sailed in Hobart this year.
Year 7 - 12 Swimming Carnival
The Year 7 - 12 Aquatics carnival was well-attended, with students and staff proudly sporting House colours. Participation levels were fantastic, even from the staff, with excellent numbers turning out for the ever-popular Staff Race.
Some words on the Staff Race from participant, Hamish Hall:
"The top eight consisted of: Casey (The Sting) Rae Mc Crickard, Joe (not slow) Cairns, Hamish (The Blob Fish) Hall, John (The Great) White, Sam (The Salmon) Norton, Alice (Ship to Shore) Bowman-Shaw, Shaun (The Shark) O’Rourke and Pam (The Clam) Stelzer. All swimmers started off different times from 0 – 17 seconds. It is unclear which athlete was the eventual winner after some controversial handicapping by the organiser and some slippery fish being a little too quick off the mark. What is clear is that swimming was the real winner on the day.
$188 was raised from donations that morning which all went directly to Speak Up Stay ChatTY. Thank you to all the staff members who put their hand up to race and especially those who eventually got to race in such good spirits."
Head of the River
Our Friends’ students performed exceptionally well at last weekend’s Head of the River at Lake Barrington. The last event on the school rowing calendar for the 2018/2019 season produced some outstanding team and individual efforts. Friends’ was fortunate to win five out of seven Shields at the Regatta, including:
- Girls Senior Shield
- Girls Aggregate Shield
- Boys Senior Shield
- Co-Ed Senior Shield
- Co-Ed Junior Shield
Full results can be viewed here.
There was a wonderful atmosphere at the Friends’ tent and in challenging wet conditions, our rowers did themselves and the School proud. Thanks to all the coaches, volunteers, parents, old scholars and staff who supported our students at the Head of the River and throughout the season.
SSATIS Swimming Carnival
Friends' students put in a great display at the recent SSATIS Swimming Carnival at the Hobart Aquatic Centre. There were 54 students representing the School from years 7-12. Friends’ was one of 14 schools who competed at the Carnival.
While missing a few elite swimmers from previous years, the team gave their best to be very competitive in all shield categories. The team ended up winning two shields on the day - the Junior Co-Ed Shield and the Co-Ed Aggregate Shield. In the age group categories, the U/13 girls won their age group while both the U/14 boys and girls both came second, while the U/13 boys placed third.
There were many outstanding swims on the day with many placings. Congratulations to the following students who came 1st in their respective events.
Ellla Chan - U/13 Girls 50m Breaststroke and 50m Butterfly
Sophie Neal, Evie Cairns, Rachel Sadiq and Ella Chan - U/13 Girls 4 x 50 Freestyle relay team
Lewis Stevens, James Clues, Reichan Bransden and Lachie MacKinnon - U/14 Boys 4 x 50 medley relay team
Olivia Crowe, Isabelle Gan-Pain, Ella Chan and Tara Powell - U/14 Girls 4 x 50 medley relay team
Reichan Bransden - U/14 50m Freestyle
James Clues - U/14 Boys 50m Breaststroke
Corin Arkell - U/15 50m Freestyle
Max Powell - Open Boys 50m Butterfly
We wish the team all the best as they compete in the SATIS carnival at the Hobart Aquatic Centre on Tuesday 26 March.
Thanks to Hamish Hall and Kaitlyn Fassina for coaching and to all our swimmers for representing the School.