Wednesday 3rd March was the 3rd day of competition at this year Australian National Rowing Championships. The day started with the repechage?s of all the small boats, pairs and singles, and then progressed through to the heats of the medium sized boats, fours for both men and women.
All three SUBC crews were put into the Heat 1 of 2 and were vying for positions into the final with 10 crews, the final will only be contested by 6 crews on Day 5 of racing, Friday 5th March. The #1 SUBC U23 4- of Neuhaus, Harding, Allsop and Quigley got off to a good start by winning their heat and progressing straight through to Friday?s final. The #2 SUBC crew of Conolly, Boyce, Goswell and Townsend came 3rd in there heat which meant that they had to go through the repechage system which would have been run on Thursday. SUBC/UTS #3 crew of Mathews, Cook, Edstein and Scharfegger came in at a very disappointing 5th place with also meant that they had to work through the repechages on Friday.
The two women?s coxless fours crews were drawn into separate heats and this had it?s own pro?s and con?s, the crew of Beasley, Marshall, Handley and Sedgman came home second which meant a repechage was going to be needed on Thursday. The #1 SUWRC crew of Walters, Costello, Bolsin and Tremayne came a very disappointing 4th in their heat to go to the repechage on Thursday also.
Overall some disappointing results on day 3 of the Australian National Championships but hopefully crews will start to shine once the reechages begin.
Thursday day 4 of the National Championships saw the repechages for the medium sized boats as well as the heats for the big boats for the men?s. All men?s and women?s fours made it through to advance to the finals on Friday.
The afternoon’s racing saw the exciting heat between the Men?s U23 eights. Eight crews contested this event and both heats were of equal excitement with strong crews from SUBC, Mercantile RC, Sydney RC, ANA/UWABC/Perth/Swans/Bunbury (WAIS). The closest heat of the day was between SUBC #1 and the WA composite crew with the finish being decided by a photo. SUBC had just edged the WA crew out by 0.16 second to proceed straight through to the final on Saturday.
Friday Day 5 of racing saw the finals of the medium sized boats, SUBC came away with a few medals in a number of events, these are: Women?s U19 Pair ? Gold, men?s U23 4 ? Bronze, Women?s U23 4 ? Silver, Men?s Open Coxed Four ? Gold, Men?s U23 Lightweight coxless four ? Gold. This would be one of two days that Sydney University Rowing would be greatly successful during the regatta.
Saturday Day 6 of Racing at SIRC saw a number of key events being fought out for medals with SUBC bring home a lot of ?silverware?, some key races were: Men?s U23 Coxed Four ? Gold, Men?s Open Lightweight Eight ? Bronze, Women?s Open Eight (Composite) ? Gold, Men?s U23 Eight ? Silver, Women?s U23 Eight ? Silver.
SUBC had some mixed results in regards to the events on offer in comparison to last years regatta but overall a succesful 6 days of racing for the club because at the end of the regatta SUBC was awarded ?The Centenary Oar? for the most successful club during the Australian National Championships.
The overall ranking?s from the nationals are as follows:
Most Successful Clubs: 1. SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 2. UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND 3. MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY 4. TAMAR 5. SWAN RIVER 6. MERCANTILE
Most Successful Schools: 1. SHORE 2. PYMBLE LADIES COLLEGE 3. SCOTCH OAKBURN and SCOTCH COLLEGE
Most Successful Athlete: 1. LISA SZATSNAJDER (Banks) 2. KIM CROW (MUBC) 3. TOM GIBSON (Tas) 4. TOM COX (Commercial) 5. EMMA McNAMARA (Qld) 6. DUNCAN FREE (Surfers)
Most Successful Coxswain: 1. MARTY RABJOHNS (SUBC) 2. M WEEVERS (PLC Perth) 3. EERIN HASELGROVE (UQBC) 4. TOBY LISTER (SUBC) 5. GABRIEL POLETTO (PLC Syd) 6. LIZZI PATRICK (Vic)