WUBC star William Conradie completes SA national team trials
- Tshepiso Mametala
The Wits University Boat Club (WUBC) has produced its latest tour de force in the regatta, with current under-23 national team prospect William Conradie making notable waves on the local rowing circuit.
It follows his invitation to train with the South Africa rowing team ahead of the open trials, which were held on 26 and 27 October, and saw the BCom student improving on each of his personal best times.
Conradie is the second member of WUBC since Lauren Soll in 2018 to participate in trials for the SA under-23 team.
As final selection tryouts, Conradie partook in the M1x race event at the Junior Gauteng Championships on 5 and 6 November, before securing 3rd place in his heat on race day one.
He narrowly missed out on the A final by 1.6 seconds, instead, qualifying for the B final with the second-fastest race time in his field.
However, Conradie’s campaign took an unexpected knock when race officials commenced the B final before he could line up at the start, although he had checked in in advance of the official race time.
Appealing this, the student-athlete was informed he could race for times at the end of the day, but following consultation with the team coach, opted to race hard the next day.
Tackling heat 1 in lane 6 from what was initially lane 3 in heat 2, a fairly inexperienced Conradie struggled to handle the wind and waves, and ultimately finished in sixth position before again narrowly making the B final. Lane seeding for the final race on Saturday was based solely on times, with the fastest times getting the closest lanes.
Racing in lane 8, Conradie enjoyed an improved race, handling the windy conditions better, ahead of finishing in fifth position in the B final.
Speaking to Wits Sports post the event, Conradie reflected on his participation in the trials, and what it meant for him.
WS: How do you hope your participation in the recent trials or subsequent selection to the national team will raise the profile of the Wits Boat Club?
WC: I hope it helps to bring awareness that the Wits Boat Club is capable of producing rowers who can compete at an elite level.
I think this could help in getting both potential rowers as well as Wits alumni interested in the club, and that we can rebuild the WUBC community as well as the team for next year. Our club was hit hard by the pandemic, mostly because we were not able to recruit many new rowers.
At the same time, many of the core members of the club graduated and left, so any positive exposure should help to rebuild the club.
WS: What has the experience of training with the national team done for you?
WC: The experience has been invaluable, I’ve learned so much in the last month and I think I’ve elevated my rowing quite dramatically in this short time.
The coaches and instructors are world-class and they’ve helped me so much. I think even if I don’t make the national squad this time around, I will continue to improve and get faster and will be able to share some of what I’ve learned with my team.
I’ve taken this opportunity head-on and given it my all, that in itself fills me with a great sense of accomplishment.
WS: What are the main objectives you have set out for yourself? Where does the current one rank on this list?
WC: At the beginning of this year, I wanted to make the World Student Games squad that would have raced in China earlier this year. However, unfortunately, that was postponed due to the pandemic.
After the SA champs in May, I got back to training as I had my sights set on competing there next year, and if possible, making the under-23 squad.
I have had a few setbacks in my training; getting Covid was one of them, which took me out for about two months.
Therefore, when the open invitation for the national squad came at the end of September, I was a bit anxious that I was not where I needed to be to do well. Training hard through this invitation period and performing well on my ergo trials was a big milestone, but hopefully, it is just the first step.
I would like to compete at the under-23 World Championships set to be held in Italy in July next year. If I fall short in the selections, I would still love to compete at the World Student Games next year.
WS: Having improved on your personal best times in each leg of the trials in October, are you confident of a spot in the national team?
WC: I was very pleased with my times for the 2k, 5k, and 17k, but I know that this is not enough to secure a spot in the team.
I met the performance standard for lightweight males for World Student Games but I was a few seconds off the requirements for under-23.
Of course, it is still a while until the world champs, and I am confident that with time I will meet the time standards.
WS: With the trials now done and dusted, describe the scull races, your performance, and the current outlook for national team selection?
WC: I had a tough set of races at the weekend. Overall, I was quite disappointed with my race, as I think a lack of experience with the conditions meant that I could not fully display my abilities.
I struggled to cope with the rough conditions and had some bad luck with the final on Friday.
I do feel pleased that my racing in the final on Saturday was much better. I feel a little less confident about the national selections but I am still hopeful that I will make it.
William Conradie in action