Bradley Pearsell

FROM humble beginnings, Corowa’s Bradley Pearsall has gone on to establish himself as one of the region’s premier athletes.

The 17-year old had a fairly low-key introduction to the sport of rowing. It was only in the summer of 2011 that the then 13-year old Pearsall first stepped aboard a race boat, as part of the Corowa High School’s rowing team.

Fast forward a few years to 2016, and the teenagers is juggling study commitments for his final year of school with competing at a state and national level.

Having made the single scull his signature event, Pearsall said he still had to pinch himself sometimes, to remind himself that he was actually competing at the highest level.

“When I first started, I never expected to get to that level, it wasn’t something I’d considered at all,” he said.

“I went reasonably well at some of the first regattas I did, so I stuck with it.

“Eventually someone asked if I wanted to take it further and go to nationals. “Now that I’m there, it’s kind of hard to believe.”

The youngster admits that the next 12 months will have a huge bearing on his sporting career.

Pearsall has his eyes on a degree in mechatronic engineering once he finishes school, although he isn’t sure where he’ll go to do that just yet.

“At this point I’m not too sure how far I’ll take my rowing, although I’m keen to have a go a making the Australian Youth team,” he said.

“I think I’ve got a chance to make it, but I’d have to step up my training a fair bit.

“It’s not the kind of thing you want to go into under-prepared.”

Coming for a regional area means Pearsall faces unique challenges as he rises through the rowing ranks, with national, state and metropolitan regattas requiring plenty of planning.

“It’s a bit different to racing at club level, the professionalism goes up,” he said.

“Coming from a country area makes it difficult to really train in any of the team disciplines, just due to the fact that there’s less people here.

“The plus side is that it’s guided me into the single scull.

“People can get a better idea of what your skill level is when you’re rowing solo, which can make it a little bit easier to get onto a team further down the track.

“It shows where you’re at quite well.” Though his future is somewhat up in the air, Pearsall said his love for the sport wouldn’t wane.

“I don’t think there’s a ceiling in terms of potential,” he said.

“I’m just lucky to have had the chance to take this as far as I’ve been able to so far.”