Australian U17 Schoolgirls 8’s winning Friends’ crew, Penrith 2014
Posted on April 15, 2026
By Greg Hill
It took a little time and organisation to finally get almost all of these girls back from the mainland, one from NZ and just two based in Hobart, to have an exciting reunion and paddle from the Friends’ rowing sheds, followed by a sumptuous breakfast with parents on December 28, 2025.
After much joyful laughter and chatting (nothing had changed in 11 years), Coach Glenn Hay finally managed to get them seated into a boat. A few technical skill rehearsals before all 8 rowed away accompanied not by the usual silence, disciplined concentration and just the rhythmic sound of the oars in the swivels, but by the unbridled and excited whooping from the crew to finally relive their shared experiences from 11 years ago.
Within a few strokes, they were all rowing in near perfect unison. For most of them, their rowing experiences began in Year 6 while the others joined a year later. Glenn Hay coached the group from the very beginning, with the emphasis on skill development, camaraderie and enjoyment.
Apart from the National success, these girls won two Head of the River titles and a number of other School and State titles.
Special thank you to current Head of Rowing, Anthony Edwards and Boat House Manager, Ian (Plank) Jordan for facilitating our celebratory reunion.
