The Sydney Uni Team arrived in Tatura in central Victoria and settled in for the 8 day campaign that is the National Rowing Championships and Interstate Regatta. The 2010 Nationals will be held on the “much disliked” Nagambie Course where prevailing winds often either make for unrowable or unfair conditions.
The team has shrunk from 48 rowers to 45 following the withdrawal of Terrence Alfred, Francis Hegerty and Henry Mander due to injury. Three coaches will work with the team during the nationals, Mark Prater, Alan Bennett and James Macartney and will be assisted on a prt-time basis by Will Townsend.
The Sydney Uni Team won the points score at the 2009 National Regatta and will be looking to defend that title again in 2010.
Among our leading senior rowers Sally Kehoe will be in action in women’s sculling, Nick Hudson in men’s, Matt Ryan and Fergus Pragnell and Sam Loch and Nick Purnell will be contesting the elite men’s pair.
About half the New South Wales Team for the interstate regatta will be from Sydney Uni. Sasha Belonogoff will be stroking the Men’s Youth Eight, Toby Ledgerwood the Penrith Cup Lightweight Four, Bronwen Watson, Brooke Pratley and Emma Costello will be in the Queen’s Cup Eight while Fergus Pragnell and Matt Ryan will try to notch their their consecutive win in the Kings Cup. Joining them in the Kings Cup crew will be Sam Loch, Nick Purnell, Nick Hudson and Toby Lister – with Alfred and Hegerty out through injury.
The Nationals represent our club’s first major test of the year as we come up against rowers from national and state institute programs.
Our photos shows – on right Sally Kehoe and Charlotte Walters, and on left Sarah Cook , Brooke Pratley and cox Ali Williams just before hitting the water to win the Women’s Champion Eight of NSW on 7th February. Sally will represent her home state of Queensland in the Queen’s Cup Eight, Sarah Cook will represent ACT in the Women’s Single and Brooke will represent NSW in the Women’s single and the Queen’s Cup Eight.