Magnificent conditions greeted rowers at the International Regatta Centre, Penrith, for Day 2 of the 2008 Nationals. This proved to be a mixed day for Sydney University with some highlights and some disappointments.
The finals of the men?s U23 pairs were early and in the men?s SUBC best managed 6, 7 and 9th out of a hot field. With winning prognostic times in this event reaching 94.2% it was one of highest standard events. Our crew?s times were very close to their winning times of 2007 in finishing 6th giving and indication of the standard achieved. Hopefully our top crews can make the necessary improvement, as they did last year , and record suitable times for selection at the final regatta in April.
In the lightweight singles both Elsa O?Hanlon and Ed Alexander did not make the A final but recorded impressive times in their finals. Elsa later teamed with Jacky Peile of St George to win her heat of the U23 Women?s Lightweight Double while Ed joined William Brieir of Tamar to take out the first heat of the Men?s U23 Lightweight Double in the fastest time of the three heats.
Earlier the club picked up its first medal of the 2008 Championships when Ed White and Toby Ledgerwood led all the way to win the U23 Men?s Lightweight Pair. They finished 3.2 seconds ahead of Melbourne Uni with Sydney?mosman composite another 2 seconds back in third.
Tomorrow, Wed 5th March, sees the heats of the U23 Fours