Clear and fine conditions at the International Regatta Centre at Penrith last Sunday (7th Feb) were ideal for the blue riband events of the 2021 New South Wales Championships – the Elite Eights.
Our women’s crew was forced to make late changes following some injuries after Saturday racing. Our crew from stroke was Ella Mentzines, Gen Horton, Kate Rowan, Sophie Houston, Rafaela Stalph, Georgie Gleeson, Eleanor Price, Sky Froebel and coxswain Talia Barnett Hepples. Their opposition crews were Melbourne Uni and Sydney Rowing Club.
SUBC establish a nearly three second lead over Sydney Rowing Club by the 1000 metre and extended this to five seconds over Melbourne University at the finish with Sydney coming in just over half a second behind Melbourne Uni in third. Coaches Don McLachlan and Alfie Young.
The men’s elite eights were next with crews racing for the Q L Deloitte Trophy. Sydney Uni’s record in this event was enviable with thirteen of the last sixteen races coming the club’s way.
This year all the National Training Centre athletes could row and so Sydney Uni, Mercantile, Sydney and Melbourne University all benefited from being able to have their best athletes in their eights.
In addition, for one of our club’s greatest rowers, Nick Purnell, this race was likely to be his last NSW State Championships giving an added incentive to the crew to bring a top performance.
The crew from stroke was Jack O’Brien, Jack Hargreaves, Alex Purnell, Nick Purnell, Campbell Watts, Lochie Miles, Will O’Shannessy, Marcus Britt with coxswain Dani Pettit.
The opposition was Sydney Rowing Club, Mercantile Melbourne University 1 and 2 and UTS/ANU Composite in the lightweight group.
From the start the SUBC crew went to half a length lead at the 500, around a length at the 1000 and won in 5 mins 36 secs from Mercantile who were just 0,73 seconds ahead of Sydney Rowing Club in third and only 0.15 seconds to Melbourne University 1 in 4th.
Program coaches were Chris Noel and John Boultbee but the real work and thanks goes to the real SUBC Coaches ( Don McLachlan, Tom Laurich, Chris Holliday, and Jack Hanley).
Thanks for all our NTC athletes who were able to be there on Sunday and represent our club so well in taking out the Elite Eights Double at the New South Wales Championships.
Our photo shows the winning Men’s and Women’s Elite Eights with their trophies.
