In difficult windy and choppy conditions the Australian Junior Four led from the start in a shortened final of the World Junior Championships to take the Gold ahead of a fast finishing Italian crew with South Africa chiming in for the bronze medal. The Aussie crew from SUBC had established themselves a clear favourites with an impressive win and fastest heat time by a good margin over the field. However gale force winds over the days of the repechages and semi finals has forced organisers to cancel racing for a day and then restrict competition to the rowable 1000 metres of the new Olympic course.
With the shorter distance the clear superiority our boys had established in their heat row was going to be narrowed with the different nature of a 1000 metre race.
Despite the postponements and re-arrangements coach Mart Rabbjohns was able to keep the crew focused and on his first effort at international level came up with a win.
The crew consisted of four year 12 students, Harry Horwitz -Rourke, Alex Carey and Cox Robbie Williams and Angus Campbell plus Rupert Sheridan who joined SUBC from school at the end of 2002.
The Aussie four covered the first 500 meters in 1.28.13 finishing in time of 2.59.15 from Italy 3.00.48 and South Africa 3.02.35.
Australia sent five crews to he 2003 World Juniors winning Gold with the four and the Women’s Double and Silver with he Women’s Coxless Pair.
On another note SUBC alumnus and FISA Techical Committee member John Boultbee was the official commentator at this Championships in what will be a test run for the 2004 Olympics.