The last trans-Tasman regatta was held in Sydney in July 2006. The Australian men?s eight were beaten in a clean-sweep by a strong New Zealand crew. This year, SUBC will send a men?s eight over to New Zealand. The crew hopes to win back the prized trophy which will be contested over three races held in Queenstown and Dunedin at the beginning of July.
The Australian eight will be boosted by the return of Will Townsend who has been living in Queensland since April.
?We have come together well,? says Townsend. ?Every row has been an improvement on the last, and we have made good use of the short preparation time.?
Sitting behind him will be James Anderson, Dave Neuhaus, Joe Power, Ed White, James Kerr, Curtis Thomas and Hugh Grenfell. The eight is a mix of youth and experience ? a testament to the depth of U23 male rowers at SUBC. Steering the eight will be Charlie Thompson, a former Shore School coxswain. The SUBC rowers have been training at Lane Cove under the watchful eye of Mike Doyle. With Phil Bourguignon and Mark Prater coaching the Australian U23 men?s eight, Doyle has been heavily involved at the shed coaching both the Trans-Tasman eight and the SUBC winter squad. His technical eye, enthusiasm and experience have gained him much respect from the SUBC athletes. Doyle will manage the Trans-Tasman team during the tour of New Zealand.