fpiglet
Darby Loudon (17)
Well other schools should care about conforming to the GPS system because events such as the Schoolboy 3rd VIII or Schoolboy third or fourth IVs only exist because of the GPS sporting system. It's not a random event generated by a club or the brilliant minds at Rowing NSW. The GPS has a tradition stretching over 100 years and have in parallel developed a graded racing system originally suited to their school's common athletic associations in rowing (and other sports). It may be the minority system in rowing now but it is the most structured. Over the years, It has also ebbed and waned due to popularity of the sport and cohort sizes (introduction of 3rd VIIIs, for example). On this forum people have observed this lack of competitive structure in the girls schools as noted. Simply, if you're racing in 3rd VIIIs it's because you are rated between the 33rd and 40th best rowers in your school. If you're in the top 16 you're in the senior eights. GPS don't stack fours over eights (although it has been alleged) but that's the principle. Indeed it is hard to compare a top IV (from Kinross, for example) with the 1st IV from the GPS who are your 17th to 20th best rowers. This is the bone of contention when non-GPS schools swan into events best suited for a win rather than an evenly graded sporting contest.