Australian Senior rowing crews headed to Munich last week for the second 2010 Rowing World Cup. Six Sydney Uni rowers competer in three different Australian Men’s Fours – and at the conclusion of te regatta Nick Purnell and Sam Loch ( one of our youngest Sen A’s and one of our oldest) came away with gold upsetting the fancied British, US crews and the Australian 2008 and 2009 silver medallists with SUBC members Francis Hegerty and Matt Ryan on board. The crews now head to Varese to prepare for the final World Cup in Lucern 9-11th July.
Our photo shows the crew just over the line at Munich.
This report is from the Rowing Australia website.
Australia has produced a great performance to win gold in the men’s four at Rowing World Cup 2 in Munich, Germany.
The crew featuring Joshua Dunkley Smith (VIC), Nicholas Purnell (NSW), Sam Loch (NSW) and Will Lockwood (VIC) upstaged their more fancied rivals to claim the gold medal in calm and cool conditions.
Australia 2 entered the race off good form in the heat and semi final but faced reigning world champions Great Britain in the final, as well as the other Australian crew of Francis Hegerty (NSW), Cameron McKenzie-McHarg (VIC, James Marburg (VIC) and Matt Ryan (NSW), the current silver medallists at World Championship and Olympic level.
Australia 2, stroked by Dunkley Smith, led the race from start to finish to beat home the USA in a time of 5:59.91, while Great Britain won the bronze medal. Australia 1, stroked by Hegerty, finished in fourth place, two seconds shy of the British crew.
Lockwood, who rowed bow seat in Australia 2, said the start of the race was key.
“We have had really quick starts in the heat and semi-final and definitely went into this race with the same mindset,” Lockwood said. “We wanted to get out by a boat length and then sit on the lead and see the rest of the field.
“We’re a pretty young crew, with three of us still under 23, and came here to gain further race experience, but to win it is great.”