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Document 1 The scene is set during a schoolgirl rowing1 competition on the Yarra River in Australia. The narrator is Leni. She is a member of her school’s rowing crew2. Laura gathers us in a grassy spot out of the way of the crowd. She has the results of the
Document 1 The scene is set during a schoolgirl rowing1 competition on the Yarra River in Australia. The narrator is Leni. She is a member of her school’s rowing crew2. Laura gathers us in a grassy spot out of the way of the crowd. She has the results of the race, on times. ‘Firstly, I’m thrilled with how you raced today. It was strong, consistent rowing,’ she says. 5 ‘St Ann’s beat us,’ I prompt, glumly. ‘St Ann’s won the Schoolgirls Division One in 33.04. You guys were second in 33.24.’ ‘They were twenty seconds ahead?’ says Rachel. She sighs through her nose. ‘They always beat us.’ 10 ‘Let’s not be too disappointed. Second is a very solid result.’ Solid. Something about the word makes me unhappy. I’m the stroke3 of our crew and when we don’t win, I take it personally. I’m desperate to be elected Captain of Boats in a few weeks’ time, so every race counts. 15 ‘This is a pre-season, fun race. So we have a little competition on our hands. Gives us something to train for,’ Laura says. ‘Get a feed and hit the drinks station. Meet back at the boat to row home in an hour and a half.’ Penny Mission grabs me as I head for the school tent on shaky legs. She’s in Year Ten – the year below me – and seems keen to be mates. She’s sweet, but I’m so busy 20 training I don’t have much time for new friends. ‘Don’t worry about St Ann’s, Leni,’ she says. ‘You rowed really well today. We all did.’ She gives me a hug, which I find awkward and wriggle out of. I don’t like touching, especially in public. 25 ‘We beat thirteen other first crews today,’ she reminds me. ‘But not the crew that counts,’ I add. Penny droops and looks deflated. I can never see the glass half full. My brother, Cristian, says it’s not a good character trait. ‘Come on,’ I say, forcing a smile. ‘Let’s eat. I’m so hungry I could eat half a cow.’ From Pip Harry, Head of the River, 2014 1 rowing: aviron (to row:ramer) 2 crew: team 3 stroke: rower who sits in the front seat 19AN2TEMLR1 Page : 2/7 Documment 2 The naarrator remembers hiss school daays at Reppton, a Pubblic Schooll1, in the 19930s. It was always aa surprise to me that