Rowing Australia media releases
Sunday 25 July
Bronzed ending for Australian World Championships team
The Australian men’s four has claimed bronze on the final day of the 2010 Under 23 World Rowing Championships in Brest, Belarus.
The crew of Joshua Dunkley Smith (VIC), Nicholas Purnell (NSW), Dominic Grimm (NSW) and Will Lockwood (VIC) finished behind the Italian and British crews in one of the closest finals of the day, winning the bronze medal in a time of 6:08.55.
Australia had entered the final after a disrupted regatta, with Dunkley Smith struggling with a virus that had forced him to miss the heat row on Thursday.
They qualified in Lane 5 for the final and were in fourth place for the opening half of the race before coming right into contention at the 1500m mark.
Italy, Great Britain and Australia were only separated by 0.63 seconds with 500m remaining, but Italy held on for gold, while the British pipped Australia by 0.07 seconds.
It concluded a strong tour for all four Australian rowers, after they had all featured in the Senior A World Cup tour in June and July. Dunkley Smith, Purnell and Lockwood had won the gold medal at the World Cup 2 in the men’s four, before featuring in the Australian men’s eight crew at World Cup 3 that won the silver medal.
Grimm, meanwhile, had won a gold medal at World Cup 3 in the men’s coxed pair.
All four will now return to Australia to complete their training ahead of the 2010 World Rowing Championships selection trials that will be held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre from 23-26 August.
In B Final action earlier in the day, the men’s quad scull claimed second place, the men’s eight finished third, the men’s lightweight double scull was fifth and the men’s lightweight four finished in sixth place.
See full results of all Australian crews.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
Saturday 24 July
Silver lining for Australian women’s four
The Australian women’s four claimed a silver medal to headline Australia’s results on Day 3 of the Under 23 World Rowing Championships in Brest, Belarus.
The all South Australian crew of Jessica Molsher-Jones, Peta White, Renee Chatterton and Mary Connelly led for the middle 1000m of the race, before succumbing to the challenge from the USA in the final quarter of the race.
In an excellent performance from the Australian crew, they crossed the line just three seconds behind USA in a time of 6:43.19.
Australia’s lightweight women’s quad scull claimed fourth place in a tight A Final. Hannah Jansen (WA), Annabel Gibson (TAS), Alexandra Hayes (WA) and Gabrielle Kukla (QLD) produced a late surge to try and reel in fourth placed France but fell short by half a boat length, recording a time of 6:42.84.
The Australian women’s quad scull of Alexandra Hagan (WA), Sarah Perkins (VIC), Amy Fowler (ACT) and Georgia Baker (WA) finished fifth in the A Final despite a late effort in the concluding 500m that brought them in touching distance of medal contention. They crossed the line in 6:39.67.
In semi-final action, the men’s four crew of Joshua Dunkley Smith (VIC), Nicholas Purnell (NSW), Dominic Grimm (NSW) and Will Lockwood (VIC) was the only Australian crew to qualify for an A Final on Sunday as they finished third.
With Dunkley Smith coming back into the crew after missing Thursday’s heat with a virus, Australia crossed the line in 6:07.44 to book their place in the main final on Sunday.
The men’s eight, men’s quad scull, men’s lightweight four and men’s lightweight double scull will all row in B Finals on Sunday.
See a full list of Australian results.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
Saturday 24 July
Australian crews progress in style
All six Australian crews in action on Day 2 of the Under 23 World Rowing Championships have advanced to the next stage of racing in Brest, Belarus.
In a successful day for the Australian Rowing Team, both the women’s lightweight quad scull and women’s quad scull made it through to the A Final, while the men’s eight, men’s quad scull, men’s lightweight double scull and men’s lightweight four all moved through to the semi-finals of their events.
In hot, sunny conditions the four heats that were postponed from the previous day commenced at 8am and Australia’s crews looked to capitalise on the great conditions.
The women’s quad scull of Alexandra Hagan (WA), Sarah Perkins (VIC), Amy Fowler (ACT) and Georgia Baker (WA) raced twice on Friday and in their repechage placed second behind Romania in 6:35.75 to qualify for the A Final on Saturday.
The women’s lightweight quad scull of Hannah Jansen (WA), Annabel Gibson (TAS), Alexandra Hayes (WA) and Gabrielle Kukla (QLD) rowed their repechage with confidence and finished third to qualify for the A Final.
With four crews set to qualify, Australia finished behind the USA and France, and 0.05 seconds clear of Japan, in a time of 6:47.98.
The men’s eight produced an excellent row to finish third in their heat and join the USA and Great Britain in qualifying for the semi-finals.
Coxed by Mark Alexander (QLD), the crew of Daniel Sweeney (VIC), Brendan Murray (WA), Tom Gatti (WA), Joshua Booth (VIC), Alex Fowler (TAS), Adam Wertheimer (TAS), Scott Laidler (QLD) and Alex Scharp recorded 5:45.77 to move through.
In other repechages, the men’s lightweight double scull of Adam Kachyckyj (QLD) and Edward de Carvalho finished (NSW) first, the men’s quad scull of Zac Cleaver (VIC), Sam Martin (SA), Shane Jackson (VIC) and Alexander Belonogoff (NSW) finished third and the men’s lightweight four of David de Lang (VIC), Jonothon Hookway (VIC), Tim Widdicombe (WA) and James Wilson (VIC) was second, with all crews qualifying for the semi-finals.
Racing will commence on Saturday at 8am local time (3pm AEST) with a mixture of semi-final and A Final action.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
Friday 23 July
Stormy conditions for first day of World Championships
The first day of the Under 23 World Rowing Championships was suspended late in the afternoon following a good start by Australia’s crews in the morning session in Brest, Belarus.
With four Australian crews still to race on the opening day of the sixth staging of the Under 23 World Championships, a large thunder storm put a halt to proceedings, with the remaining heat races now to be contested on Friday morning local time.
In fast, tail wind conditions in the morning, the Australian women’s four started proceedings well for Australia as they won their heat to book a place in the A Final on Saturday.
The all South Australian crew of Jessica Molsher-Jones, Peta White, Renee Chatterton and Mary Connelly made use of the conditions to record a time of 6:46.02, leading home Germany by 1.5 seconds.
The Australian men’s four suffered a setback shortly before racing as Joshua Dunkley Smith (VIC) withdrew from the heat due to a virus. Dunkley Smith was replaced by men’s eight member, Alex Fowler (TAS), with Fowler helping Dominic Grimm (NSW), Nicholas Purnell (NSW) and Will Lockwood (VIC) to a third place finish in a time of 6:21.43.
Third place allowed Australia to qualify for the semi-final on Saturday, with Dunkley Smith still a chance to feature if he recovers in time.
The Australian women’s lightweight quad scull of Hannah Jansen (WA), Annabel Gibson (TAS), Alexandra Hayes (WA) and Gabrielle Kukla (QLD) recorded third in their heat, while Adam Kachyckyj (QLD) and Ed de Carvalho (NSW) finished fourth in the heat of the men’s lightweight double scull, with both crews now set to race in the repechages on Friday.
The men’s eight, men’s lightweight four and women’s and men’s quad sculls all were unable to race due to the storm and will row their respective heats on Friday morning.
National High Performance Director Andrew Matheson says the first day of the regatta provided a bit of everything.
“It always makes it hard on the crews when racing is suspended, especially when athletes have completed a full warm up and are ready to race,” Matheson said. “They should not be troubled by the delay though, as it is just part of racing, and will come out raring to go in the morning.
“The women’s four set a good precedent for our crews by winning their heat and the three other crews only have a tiny bit to work on and they will be right in contention.”
Day 2 of the regatta will commence at 8am Belarus time (3pm AEST) with the remaining heats that were held over from Thursday.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
Thursday 22 July
Australia targets success at the Under 23 World Championships
The Australian Under 23 Team commences their tilt at international success tonight as the 2010 Under 23 World Rowing Championships commence in Brest, Belarus.
Eight Australian crews will line up at the sixth running of the Under 23 World Championships, with close to 900 athletes representing 57 nations entered in the 2010 regatta.
Australia’s charge will be led by the men’s four crew of Joshua Dunkley Smith (VIC), Nicholas Purnell (NSW), Will Lockwood (VIC) and Dominic Grimm (NSW), who enter the regatta fresh off their successful senior World Cup tour.
Dunkley Smith, Purnell and Lockwood claimed gold with Sam Loch in the men’s four at World Cup 2 in Germany, before backing this result up with a silver medal in the men’s eight at World Cup 3 in Switzerland.
Grimm, meanwhile, won gold in the men’s coxed pair at World Cup 3 and replaces 26 year old Loch in the crew.
Australia will also enter crews in the men’s eight, men’s quad scull, men’s lightweight double scull, men’s lightweight four, women’s quad scull, women’s lightweight quad scull and women’s four.
National High Performance Director Andrew Matheson says the results of these eight crews will be watched closely.
“The Under 23 World Championships are always a hard regatta to gauge and there are a lot of very talented athletes floating around from a number of nations,” Matheson said. “Our eight crews contain many athletes who will have the 2012 London Olympic Games in the back of their minds.
“They have had a good preparation and now have a chance to test themselves against some quality international competition.”
Racing commences today at 10am (6pm AEST) in Belarus with the heats of the women’s four, while the regatta will conclude with the final of the men’s eight on Sunday 25 July.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
Australian Under 23 World Championships Team
Men’s Four
Joshua Dunkley Smith (VIC)
Nicholas Purnell (NSW)
Will Lockwood (VIC)
Dominic Grimm (NSW)
Men’s Eight
Daniel Sweeney (VIC)
Brendan Murray (WA)
Tom Gatti (WA)
Joshua Booth (VIC)
Alexander Fowler (TAS)
Adam Wertheimer (TAS)
Scott Laidler (QLD)
Alexander Scharp (VIC)
Mark Alexander (cox) (QLD)
Men’s Quad Scull
Zac Cleaver (VIC)
Sam Martin (SA)
Shane Jackson (VIC)
Alexander Belonogoff (NSW)
Men’s Lightweight Four
David de Lang (VIC)
Jonothon Hookway (VIC)
Timothy Widdicombe (WA)
James Wilson (VIC)
Men’s Lightweight Double Scull
Adam Kachyckyj (QLD)
Edward de Carvalho (NSW)
Women’s Quad Scull
Alexandra Hagan (WA)
Sarah Perkins (VIC)
Amy Fowler (ACT)
Georgia Baker (WA)
Women’s Lightweight Quad Scull
Hannah Jansen (WA)
Annabel Gibson (TAS)
Alexandra Hayes (WA)
Gabrielle Kukla (QLD)
Women’s Four
Jessica Molsher-Jones (SA)
Peta White (SA)
Renee Chatterton (SA)
Mary Connelly (SA)
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