The Tribune

IT was a proud moment for the Windsor School at Albany and The Bahamas in the sport of rowing when a selected six-member team, four of whom are Bahamian, stepped foot inside the gymnasium at the Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas.

Despite a flight cancellation, a 200-plus mile road trip across Texas, last minute regatta schedule changes and icy cold weather conditions, the Windsor rowing team pursued on to ensure they would make the competition start time on Saturday, February 5 at the Southwest Ergometer Amateur Tournament, an indoor rowing competition with over 300 entries. All of the student-athletes raced a 2,000m distance on the ergometers in their respective categories. There were 20 ergometers set up indoors all of which were connected to a large screen projector to show the individual rankings in real time as all competitors pushed and pulled hard in each heat.

Competing first was Crachante Laing (grade 11) and Anjaleah Knowles (grade 10) at the indoor rowing competition.

Laing clocked in at 8:22.1 and finished 5th in the Women’s Jr 1x and Knowles finished 4th in a time of 8:45.6 in the Women’s Jr Lightweight 1x. Crachante tied her personal best time while Anjaleah was just off her personal best time by three seconds.

Up next was the boys with Isaiah Ellis (grade 9) making a huge debut in his category. Ellis placed 2nd in the Men’s High School Freshman 1x in a personal best time of 7:08.3, dropping 14 seconds off his entered time of 7:22.

Samuel McCullen (grade 12) took charge in the Men’s Jr 1x, placing 3rd overall in a personal best time of 6:46.8.

Harry Winchester (grade 11) won his heat and placed 9th overall in a personal best time of 7:06.4 after a gutsy sprint at the finish, and teammate Matthias Simms (grade 10) finished 2nd to Winchester in his heat, placing 10th overall in a personal best time of 7:07.2.

The 2,000m distance on the rowing machine is the single biggest indicator of potential in rowing. Additionally, the 2,000m ergometer times are heavily weighted by US collegiate coaches during the NCAA recruiting process.

Rob Gibson, director of rowing at Windsor, could not be more pleased with the performance of his team. “A step in the right direction for our programme and the sport of rowing in The Bahamas and the region.”

Katie Roach, director of physical education, regarded the experience as “one for the books” noting it was “inspirational to watch the student-athletes race with pride, integrity and grit to represent their school and country.”

Roach is very encouraged for more opportunities that lay ahead for the students, especially under the leadership of Gibson who is a three-time Olympian for Team Canada and former world record holder.

Laing and McCullen are co-captains of the team.