Geoff Geoff
Frank Nicholson (4)
If nefarious agreed.It's reprehensible but shows the lengths some coaches will go to in order to gain a result. Maybe now all the naysayers will believe the claims I made in the 2015-16 season regarding substitutions in the Fours. Do you really think that all seats are scrupulously filled each week and then out of nowhere a GPS coach decides to jump in an empty seat one fine Putney morning? He did it because he knew no-one checks and even when there are known discrepancies, no-one believes it.
Just looking at results on RNSW, There have been discrepancies through the season notably at plc/kings in the Riverview IVs, 2nd Iv 5sec faster than 1st iv, 4th IV 15sec faster than 3rd IV, and unexplained scratching from their VIIIs. At recent Scots Regatta. Scots 3rd IV faster than first Iv by 6-7 seconds and Riverview 4th iv 10sec faster than their 3rd. Both crews to win and both while the times from other schools comparable as the conditions have been. Also with Joeys scratching at king Plc in 1st Viii then winning the 2nd VIII with a substitution. Early in season Kings and Newington et al had weird results also but early in season these likely explained by fluid selections
I guess being a non point score Regatta the argument might be from these schools that otherwise there would be no race? Perhaps winning against no opposition or as aforementioned results show entering faster boats in lower divisions is the preference from the likes of Scots and Riverview. Shows a clear insecurity on the behalf of those there... also misses the point of competing at school, I remember competing regularly against club crews a a school boy to get more race experience. All other sports compete every weekend at this time and balance of student development surely is a priority we care about I.e. competing regardless of result for the sake of competing. Stacking, pulling out of regattas etc all highlights too much of a “wins on the board” focus
As others have mentioned it’s a shame there has been little racing this year as Riverview et al seek to do crew selections in place of the plc/Regatta, others race interstate and few schools entered the Scots regatta. Is good to see 3rd and 4th IV events at the high regatta which is a welcome change
All a bit of a mess really and probably won’t get any clearer until HOTR