The Mens and Womens Clubs of Sydney University rowing combined at the February NSW State Rowing Championships to take out the Honours Trophy for the leading Club. Points for this trophy are awarded based on first, second and third placings at the Championships.
Our photo shows Francis Hegerty (SUBC Captain)and Bronwen Watson (SUWRC Captain) receiving the Honours Trophy from John Coates, Chairman Australian olympic Committee.
All the squad of 36 men and women and our three coaches made a major contribution and here are some highlights from a weekend of hot rowing competition:
1. Gold Medals to the Lightweight Women in the Womens LW Quad and Pair and Gold and Silver in the Womens Lightweight Scull. The Quad: Zita van de Walle, Bronwen Watson, Hilary Stiel, Rebecca Cooksley. Zita and Brownwen completed the triple by winning the Double Scull and taking out gold and silver in the singles.
2. Gold Medal to Rupert Sheridan and Andrew Wilson in Mens U21 HW Pair,
3. Gold Medal to Nick Hudson in Mens U23 HW Single Scull
4. Gold Medal to the Womens Eight in U21 Eight and Silver Medal in the Elite Eight.
5. Gold Medal to Oli Zuk in Mens LW Four and LW Pair and Silver medal in LW pair to James Wilmot and Matt Bolster.
6. In the Mens Elite category the competition was fierce with large squads attending from Queensland and Victorias leading clubs. Also two German international rowers participated for UTS and were members of their winning Mens Eight.
The SUBC crew of Francis Hegerty/Matt Ryan/ Mike Valli and Tim Williams finished with bronze in the Mens Elite HW Four in a time of 6.07 just two seconds behind the winners, Melbourne University.
In the final event of the regatta anticipation was high – the Mens Elite Eight featured a full field of nine starters with two Victorian crews and a Queensland crew. The quality of the filed in this class of boat was considered by many to be the best ever assembled for a domestic race.
The pressure was applied by the top five of UTS, MUBC, Mercantile,SUBC and UQBC from the start. UTS and MUBC opened up with a 1.23 first 500, with Sydney Uni near the tail of the field at 1.29. By the 1000metre mark UTS ahead a second over MUBC with Mercantile 3 seconds back inturn 2 seconds ahead of UQ and SUBC.
The final 1000 saw the second and third crews challenge UTS and SUBC challenged and passed UQ making up time on the leading crews with the fastest third 500 of all crews (1.25).
The strong UTS crew held on to win in a shade under 5.37, MUBC 5.38,Mercantile 5.39, SUBC 5.42 UQBC 5.43, Sydney 5.46, Drummoyne 5.51, UTS 2 5.52, St George 6.21
Congratulations to the Eight – our heavyweights are now moving into the top league and this crew was no doubt the fastest ever boated by our Club. With so many young members we can look forward to some strong future performances.
7. One other outstanding performance was from Tim O Callaghan our SUBC Lightweight who has been the last two years at the AIS. Tim competed in the heavyweight events at this regatta and finished 6th in the Mens Elite HW (with his partner Karl Parker) pair only two seconds behind the winners in the world class time of 6.28.
Chris Noel, SUBC