It’s been a rite of spring for Brentwood College grads and Olympic medallists such as Malcolm Howard, Dave Calder, Scott Frandsen, Darren Barber and Blair Horn — and for a lot of other rowers, too.
You know it’s a big deal when the sign welcoming drivers into Mill Bay reads: Home of the Brentwood Regatta.
The 44th annual regatta this weekend will feature 1,647 high school-age rowers from 37 schools and clubs from B.C., Washington and Oregon.
There will be 167 races on the 1,500-metre course, seven boats abreast beginning every seven minutes, starting today from 2 to 8 p.m., continuing Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and concluding Sunday from 7 a.m. to noon.
“This is one of the largest sporting events hosted by a single high school,” said Debbie Sage, director of Brentwood College rowing and regatta chairwoman for the 15th year.
Sage noted it’s challenging enough to host eight or so teams in a school basketball tournament, but try taming this regatta beast as more than 5,000 rowers, coaches, support staff, parents and spectators are expected on campus.
“This is a very big event for Mill Bay and the community buys into the regatta. Every bed and breakfast and hotel and motel in the area is booked,” said Sage.
The school’s playing fields, usually host to rugby players, have been taken over by boat trailers this weekend.
In order to pull this off, each of the 480 Brentwood College students are expected to work six hours on the regatta. That includes the more than 100 members of the rowing team, who have duties in the regatta in addition to pulling the oars.
It teaches responsibility on and off the water. It’s a recipe that works. A total of 23 Brentwood College graduates have represented Canada in the Summer Olympics, several in rowing.
“A lot of Olympians have come out of our [Brentwood College] rowing program and we’ve had people like Dave Calder, Scott Frandsen and Malcolm Howard come up to present medals at the regatta, and hope to again this weekend,” said Sage.
“Having mentors is very important.”
SCHOOL SHOTS: The newest Summer Olympics sport is on display with Cowichan looking to defend its provincial title from 2013 when the B.C. high school girls’ rugby sevens championship opens today at the University of B.C. Other Island qualifiers are Shawnigan Lake, GP Vanier, Belmont and Stelly’s. … The boys’ B.C. high school sevens championship runs Saturday and Sunday at UBC with Oak Bay, GNS, Cowichan and GP Vanier representing the Island.
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