ROWERS returned to the course at the annual Rowing Victoria State Championships in Ballarat last weekend.

The Hamilton and Alexandra College (THAC) senior male quad scull of Harry Dorahy, Hugo Dabernig, Ben Walker, Henry Russell and cox Jake Alexander had no luck during Saturday's Open School State Championship event across 2000m.

They were unable to hold off Ballarat Clarendon, Ballarat Grammar, Trinity, and Gippsland Grammar, with the final line a minute faster than the times set during the preliminary event.

The senior male quad scull opened Sunday’s racing, making a strong first impression off the line in the B Grade event.

The College students moved to the front early, holding Wendouree Ballarat, Corowa, and Melbourne within their reach, as they approached the 500m marker.

Applying pressure, the students created a gap, holding the lead pack as they moved toward the finish line.

 With fellow students cheering from the sideline, the quad scull picked up the pace and increased the oar pressure to hold Melbourne within a stroke of the finish line, with the race ending in a photo finish for first to fourth place.

Gold to hometown crew, Wendouree Ballarat in 3:44, half a second to second-placed Corowa Rowing Club and third to The Hamilton and Alexandra College, 0.04 seconds ahead of Melbourne Rowing Club.

With strong crosswinds on the course, many crews failed to make important ground leading into the final 250m during Sunday's 1000m races.

Hamilton Rowing Club president, Alan Clarence, started the local contingents Sunday racing in the male C grade Double Scull.

Securing a finals berth with crew member Aaron Skinner (Nestles, Dennington), they could not improve their heat time in the eight-lane final following a strong effort from Melbourne Argonaut scullers, who finished first in the final in a 1000m time of 4:04.79.

Clarence raced in the Para Double Scull with Skinner as well.

After a strong season, the duo finished with silver behind hometown favourite, Wendouree Ballarat. 

In other races for THAC, Jemima Koch, Sophie Hill, Claudia Cochran, Hannah Wilson, and Cox: Adam Cameron debuted for College with a strong effort in the C grade and Under-17 Quad Scull.

THAC’s Jono Stewart secured his first final berth in the hotly contested male Under-17 Single Scull.

The young college student fought hard in his heat, securing third place and qualifying for the final with Gippsland Grammar and Geelong College.

In the final, pace went up a notch, with Stewart unable to match the strong efforts from Corio Bay’s Zander Bailey, who locked in the medal in 4:21, with Ballarat Grammar and Corio Bay taking out the minor placings.

The female contingent of College rowers is now training hard off water (due to lake closure) for the largest regatta in the Southern Hemisphere next weekend on the Barwon River.