Australian Youth Olympic Festival News

Queensland Clean Up - New Zealand Spoils the Party

Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith: The final session of rowing has concluded with Queensland winning all but one of the six finals. However their party was spoiled when New Zealand surprisingly took won the women’s eight.

The Kiwis had a tough battle throughout the 2000 metre race with the highly fancied Queensland crew who won every women’s race and were looking for a clean sweep by winning the eight. New Zealand had the best of the start holding half a canvas at 500 gone. In the second 500 the Kiwis endeavored to pull away however the Queenslanders, hung onto them. With the finish line in sight and the crowd cheering, Queensland were beginning to catch the New Zealanders but the famous black race suits were not going to let their Trans-Tasman rowers past. With a photo finish called for the Kiwis had to wait for some minutes before being declared the winners. As the crews awaited for the medal presentation, Lucy James of the New Zealand crew said: "it was a really close race, pretty exciting, we were surprised by the win as Queensland had won all the other events." Coxswain Abbie Milner said her call was: "quick catches and keep the pressure on." Kirsten Burridge who rowed in the seven seat summed it up: "it was really hard but exciting, oarsome! It was so good to spoil Queensland’s party, but they did so good."

In the mens's eight the last race of the day Queensland stamped their authority on the regatta by storming to the line to win by over a length a head of New South Wales with Western Australia close in third. The winning Queensland coxswain Mitch Rosenlund said: "the whole plan was to keep the intensity up in the first 500 metres, and give it a bit of stick in the middle 1000. Our plan worked well, our emphasis was to hold our length and get sharp around the front." When asked about the Queensland success of the Regatta he said: "we have a really good sprit in team everyone works together."

The women's quad final the Queensland crew, contained Tara Kelly and Suzanne Brown who, collected Gold and Silver respectively in the single scull on Thursday as well as Melanie Clements and Lucinda James who won Gold in the lightweight double scull on Thursday. The quartet lead narrowly off the start ahead of Tasmania and New Zealand. Queensland pushed in the third 500 to establish a half a lengths lead with 500 to go, with New Zealand moving the second. Queensland maintained their lead to win by over a length with New Zealand collecting the silver and bronze to South Australia. Lucinda James, the stroke the Queensland crew said: "it was tough all the way from the start." James said their tactics were: "get out in front and stay there, pushes at each crucial stage."

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The men’s quad scull final was one of the closest races of the regatta. Two seconds separated all three medal winners. The Queensland crew was stroked by World Junior Silver medallist in the single scull Eugene Arendsen. Arendsen who was surprising beaten by NSW sculler Nick Hudson on Thursday in the single was hungry for victory. Arendsen and his fellow Queenslanders trailed off the start to arch rival NSW. The Queenslanders had to throw everything at it in the second 500 meteres to go past NSW. Tasmania and Western Australia were battling out the bronze medal. Queensland were able to hang on to win Gold, with NSW silver and a photo finish to determine the bronze between Tasmania and a fast finishing Western Australia crew. The WA crew was awarded the bronze by a margin of 0.44 seconds. Arendsen said "it was really tough competition, especially from NSW, we called step up, go. It was a great race I am really happy." It was a surprise win to Queensland, David Houston who rowed in the three seat said, "we were the underdogs".

The women's four produced a silver medal to New Zealand with Gold to Queensland and bronze to Victoria. The Queensland crew lead all the way to win by over a length. The joyous New Zealand crew worked hard during the seven and half minute race. Jamie Neilson, from Hamilton said: "once you get past the 500 it is really hard, put the blades in the water and push. It is a wonderful experience to row on the Olympic course." Liz Brown of the Queensland crew put the continued Queensland success to their diet: "squashed bananas". However their coach Peter Howard said: the success was more due to: "a good bunch of girls, dedicated and willing to train hard they put in all the time and getting the rewards for it."

The men's four that has been a premier event over the last 15 years mainly due to the success of the Oarsome Foursome was a close fought battle with Queensland taking Gold Western Australia silver and South Australia bronze.

Queensland won the overall pointscore with 244 points, Tasmania second on 185, New Zealand third with 181. All the athletes enjoyed the experience of competing at an International Regatta similar to what would be held at the Olympics. AOC President John Coates was pleased with what he saw on the water: "I do think we will see too many of them at Athens, but we are certainly in good shape come Beijing from what we have seen here today, and also pleasing New Zealand showed a lot of strength."

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