PLANNING continues for the Hamilton and Nestles Rowing Club Regatta, with the event scheduled for next weekend.

It will be the first regatta outside of Melbourne this season after the previous two events were cancelled, due to low registrations and restrictions.

Hamilton Rowing Club captain, Ashley Quinsey said she remained hopeful the local event would go ahead, despite a drop in entries compared to previous years.

“Entries have been slow and the club is expecting entries to flow in over the weekend,” she said.

“We are hoping entries continue to ensure the event remains viable.

“The last two weeks of racing has seen both regattas canned, due to numbers, so this will be the first one to go ahead.

“The good thing about it being an outdoor event, restrictions have eased enough to have an event with unlimited rowers.

“Those attending still have to check in, and if you can’t socially distance, you just need to wear a mask.”

Quinsey has backed the local contingent of competitors to impress if they get the chance to compete on Lake Hamilton.

“Hamilton and Alexandra College has a few up-and-coming rowers and coxswains, so it will be interesting to see how they go in their first regatta,” she said.

“Hamilton has a young contingent of female rowers, who despite the ins and outs of training during the past year, should perform well also.”

The regatta offers events for school-aged competitors right through to masters and also incorporates multiple grades in the program.

The two-day event will also include an all-abilities section.

“We are excited to have a competition of Disrow (disabled rowing),” Quinsey said.

“Nestles is rowing in both categories, with the possibility of teaming up with Hamilton.”

With the majority of entries flowing in on the Saturday prior to a regatta, the club remains hopeful of the event going ahead after missing out on the 2020 event, due to COVID restrictions.

“We may have to re-visit the event if entries don’t increase over the weekend,” Quinsey said.

Should the event go ahead, set up will begin on Friday, with the event having exclusive use of the lake next weekend.