The Australian National Selection Regatta concluded on Sunday 17 April with the speed order trial and by the end of the day seven SUBC athletes and two coaches had been selected into Australian crews. Mitch Estens, Andrew Heffer and Cameron Girdlestone, along with Andrew Conolly from Sydney Rowing Club, were chosen as the Australian Junior Men’s Coxless Four. They are to be coached by Joey’s and SUBC affiliated coach Damien Mitchelmore and will be training out of SUBC. This is the third straight year SUBC has been home to this crew.
Ian Allsop and Fergus Pragnell continued on their winning ways all week and as a result were selected in the Australian Men’s Under 23 VIII. As a testament to their results and the respect held for Andrew Randell the crew is to be based out of SUBC before heading to Europe in July for the World Cup in Lucerne and Under 23 World Championships in Amsterdam.
After three years of hard work and trying, in his final year in the Under 23 category, Andrew Wilson cracked into the big time and gained selection in the Men’s Under 23 Quad scull. This is the third year running SUBC has had an athlete in this crew. The crew is to be based in Perth under the direction of WAIS coach Jason Lane and Willo leaves next Tuesday.
Finally Mat Ryan, along with his UTS partner James Chapman, was selected to represent Australia in the Senior A coxless four at the Rowing World Championships to be held in Japan. The coxless four was the boat that made James Tompkins and the awesome foursome famous and we wish Mat the same success for the future. Mat is the first SUBC heavyweight selected in Senior A since Phil Winkworth and Tony Anisimoff were included in the Australian Four to the 1980 World Championships.
Will Chambers, in his first year out of school, unfortunately missed out on making the U23 Quad by only one place. Similarly Chris Clyne and Pat Wilson came very close to making the U23 VIII. These three should be congratulated on their excellent efforts and with all of them having more seasons left at Under 23 the future of the club looks strong.
All these results are the culmination of another season of hard work by all the athletes and the coaches and everyone involved should be very proud. Marty Rabjohns and Andrew Randell must be acknowledged and thanked for their tireless work that has put the club in such an excellent position.
The photo shows Australian Representatives (from left to right) Andrew Wilson, Ian Allsop, Fergus Pragnell and Matthew Ryan in the 2005 NSW State Champion VIII.
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