March 2008
Sunday 9 March
NSW shatter Tomkins and Ginn dream
NSW have won one of the closest King’s Cup’s on record to shatter James Tomkins and Drew Ginn’s dream of winning their last King’s Cup.
In a pulsating race Western Australia led through the first 1500 metres before NSW and Victoria came steaming home to set up a grandstand finish.
The NSW and Victorian crews went bow ball to bow ball with NSW eventually holding out to win by 0.21 seconds in a time of 5:32.89. Western Australia came home in third place.
The NSW crew, which consisted of James Chapman, Sam Loch, Stephen Stewart, Tom Laurich, Matt Ryan, Fergus Pragnell, Francis Hegerty and Terrence Alfred, coxed by Marty Rabjohns, broke Victoria’s stranglehold on the event to win only their third race in 24 years.
James Chapman, member of the winning crew and 2008 Australian Men’s Eight crew, said the feeling was amazing.
“The Vics talk about their pride in representing their state in the King’s Cup, but there is no prouder moment for a New South Welshman to beat Victoria in a King’s Cup race”, Chapman said. “We treated this race with seriousness it deserves from day 1 and it is all worth it now.”
Ginn and Tomkins reflected on what was a great race that ended in disappointment.
“NSW had a great crew and we gave it all we had for the 2000 metres, but they thoroughly deserved it so full credit to them”, Tomkins said. “This will more than likely be it for me.”
In the Queen’s Cup the Victorian crew of Sarah Heard, Catriona Sens, Robyn Selby Smith, Phoebe Stanley, Pauline Frasca, Fleur Chew, Kim Crow and Emily Martin, coxed by Lizzy Patrick raced to victory by 4 boat lengths to win by 12 seconds from Western Australia and Queensland. They won in a time of 6:09.57 to take out their seventh title in ten years.
New South Wales won the Rowing Australia Cup for the overall champions in the Intestate Regatta, with full results available.
For more information please visit www.rowingaustralia.com.au.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Sunday 9 March
Western Australia win 50th Penrith Cup
Western Australia has won the 50th Penrith Cup at the 2008 Australian Rowing Championships Interstate Regatta at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.
Ben Cureton, Todd Skipworth, Perry Ward and Ross Brown placed together an excellent race to win a time of 6:05.83 and defeat arch rivals Tasmania by just under two seconds. Queensland rounded out the top three taking out the bronze medal.
The Penrith Cup was first awarded in 1958 and was dedicated by the Penrith council. It was fitting thast the 50th anniversary of the event was held in the region that is originated.Tasmania and Western Australia have always been the dominant crews with the West Australian crew retaining the title they won last year.
Ben Cureton said that it was great to win the Penrith Cup again.
“The Penrith Cup is so important to lightweight rowing and rowing in general and to win on the 50th anniversary makes it an extra special feeling”, Cureton said. “We have such a terrific rivalry in the event with Tasmania so it was good to get one up on them this time around.”
The Men’s and Women’s Youth Eights were also tight affairs with Queensland taking out the Girls Youth Eight in a tight finish from New South Wales and Victoria. Victoria won the Men’s Youth Eight from Queensland and New South Wales.
For more information please visit www.rowingaustralia.com.au.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Sunday 9 March
Queenslanders led by Savage at Interstate Regatta
Pippa Savage (QLD) was in sparkling form at the 2008 Australian Rowing Championships Interstate Regatta at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.
Savage won the first race of the interstate regatta in dominant fashion as she stroked clear of Tasmania’s Kerry Hore to win in a time of 7:37.51 by three boat lengths and retain the Nell Slatter Trophy. NSW rower Zoe Uphill was third.
Savage said that she was relieved to win the title again for Queensland.
“Representing your state at such an important event brings the best out of you and I am glad that I managed to get the win today”, Savage said.
NSW rower Dan Noonan held off the fast finishing Chris Morgan (SA) and Duncan Free (QLD) to claim his first President’s Cup.
He won in a time of 7:05.76 to take the race that many anticipated Free would win. Free had made a return to single sculling for this event in a bid to win the race for an eighth time.
Amber Halliday, Marguerite Houston, Miranda Bennett and Maya Fiddler defended the Women’s Lightweight quad scull title for South Australia, winning the race by two boat lengths from Tasmania and New South Wales
More results to follow.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Saturday 8 March
Ginn eclipses Tomkins in Men’s Four
In the Men’s Open Coxless Four, the main competition stood between the Surfers/Melbourne Uni/Mercantile RC crew of Karsten Forsterling (VIC), David Crawshay (VIC), Drew Ginn (VIC) and Duncan Free (QLD) and the Uni of QLD/UTS/Mercantile RC crew of Sam Loch (NSW), James Chapman, (NSW) James Tomkins (VIC) and Sam Conrad (QLD). With such a wide selection of elite athletes, most of which are members of the 2008 Australian team, this race was guaranteed to be dangerously close.
Whilst the Sydney University/Melbourne University crew of Matthew Ryan (NSW), James Marburg (VIC), Cameron McKenzie-McHarg (VIC) and Francis Hegerty (NSW) held onto second position for the first 1000-meters, Conrad’s crew managed to step up and challenge them with the two crews racing bow-ball to bow-ball until the last 500-meters. At this point, Conrad’s crew made a dominant step that enabled them to take out the Silver medal just under 2-seconds behind Free’s crew.
In the Women’s Open Quad Scull, the Mosman Composite/NSWIS crew of Zoe Uphill (NSW), Amber Bradley (WA), Kerry Hore (TAS) and Amy Ives (NSW) finished in first place with a comfortable 5.44-second lead on the Sydney Uni Composite of Sally Kehoe (QLD), Liz Kell (NSW), Kim Crow (VIC) and Brooke Pratley (NSW). Ives crew completed the final 500 metres in a time of 1:39.65.
The Huon Composite crew from Tasmania dominated the Men’s Open Lightweight Eight gradually increasing the gap throughout the race between themselves and the Silver medal winners from Toowong Rowing Club. The Crew of Nick Baker, Mark Rippon, Shaun Finlayson, William Breler, Blair Tunevitsch, Max Sondermeyer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Gibson and Coxswain Giles Harvey finished in a time of 6:03.49 to claim the National Title.
Maja Fiddler (SA), Miranda Bennett (NSW), Amber Halliday (SA) and Marguerite Houston (SA) made up the winning combination for the Women’s Open Lightweight Quad Scull. Whilst the Tasmanian crew of Kirsty Flemming, Emily Grant, Ingrid Fenger and Carly Cottam were first out of the blocks, they were unable to hold onto the lead and finished 4.33-seconds behind.
After winning the Men’s Open Coxless Four, Duncan Free (QLD) went on to also win the National Title for the Men’s Open Quad Scull with Brendan Long (TAS), Scott Brennan (TAS) and Dan Noonan (NSW). The South Australian crew of Matthew Bolt, Tim Hennessy, Chris Morgan and James McRae challenged Noonan’s crew right up to the finish line but were unable to step ahead.
Dominic Monypenny (TAS) won the final for the Arms Only Men’s Single Scull with a 14.6-second lead on Peter Taylor of Nepean Rowing Club. Monypenny also placed first in the Adaptive Men’s Single Scull Fixed Seat at last years National Championships.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Saturday 8 March
Legendary coach plays part in Beijing
Retired AIS and Australian head coach Reinhold Batschi was honoured last night at the Rowing Australia President’s Cocktail Function.
Batschi, along with Andrew Guerin was honoured with Life Membership to Rowing Australia, for his efforts to rowing over the past 30 years.
The Men’s Eight boat for the Beijing Olympic campaign was named Reinhold Batschi to further honour the retired coach.
Batschi moved to Australia to take up a position as the first full time Australian coach for the rowing program in 1979 from his native Romania via West Germany.
Batschi said that his passion for the sport made his job easy.
“I have been privileged to have been involved in the sport that I love for such a long period of time”, Batschi said. “I am honoured to have been recognised in such a way and am looking forward to seeing the Men’s Eight race in Beijing.”
He was the head coach for the Australian Olympic Team for six Olympiads from 1980 – 2000. He remains the only coach to win a gold medal in the coveted Men’s Eight after claiming the 1986 World Championship title, as well as the gold at the 1986 Common wealth Games.
Batschi was awarded a Medal for the Order of Australia in 1987 for his work for rowing.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Friday 7 March
Crow on fire in Penrith
Kim Crow added her second national title in as many hours as part of the Women’s Four crew that won at the Australian Rowing Championships at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.
Crow was part of the Melbourne University Boat Club crew that included Phoebe Stanley (VIC), Sarah Heard (VIC) and Catriona Sens (VIC). They won the final in a time of 6:34.86 to edge out Liz Kell (NSW), Sally Kehoe (QLD), Brooke Pratley (NSW) and Kim Crow (ACT) by a bow ball.
Crow was delighted to win the two national titles and now is looking forward to the Queen’s Cup on Sunday.
“To win a national title is always a great experience and it is no different on this occasion”, Crow said. “I know all the girls in the Victorian Queen’s Cup crew are excited about the race on Sunday and we are looking to fly the flag for the big white V.”
The 2007 Australian double scull combination of Amber Bradley (WA) and Kerry Hore (TAS) won the final of the Women’s Double Scull in a time of 7:05.81 to replicate the title they won in 2005. Bradley and Hore won ahead of the Mosman crew of Amy Ives (NSW) and Zoe Uphill (NSW), with Catriona Sens (VIC) and Sonia Mills (ACT) coming home in third place.
Tasmanian’s Scott Brennan and Brendan Long won their third Men’s Double Scull national title in four years in impressive fashion. They completed the race in a time of 6:24.45 to lead home Tim Hennessy (SA) and James McRae (SA), with Nick Hudson (NSW) and Peter Hardcastle (NSW) third.
Victorian Alice McNamara completed the double in the women’s lightweight events. McNamara won ahead of an impressive field in the Women’s Lightweight Single Scull in a time of 7:48.68. She won ahead of Marguerite Houston (SA) and Bronwen Watson (NSW). In the final of the Women’s Lightweight Double Scull, McNamara teamed up Miranda Bennett to win the national title.
For a full list of results visit www.rowingaustralia.com.au.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Friday 7 March
Savage defends national title
Pippa Savage (QLD) has taken out the national title for the Women’s Single Scull for the second consecutive year.
Savage won the final in a time of 7:29.84 to finish ahead of Kerry Hore (TAS) by three boat lengths with Sonia Mills (ACT) in third place.
Savage said it was great to defend her national title.
“I felt really comfortable through the first 1000m and knowing there was such a strong field behind me I forced myself to keep rowing strongly:, Savage said.
Dan Noonan (NSW) won the Men’s Single Scull with a time of 7:00.00. Chris Morgan (SA) place second with Nick Hudson (NSW) in third place.
Duncan Free (QLD) and Drew Ginn (VIC) also defended their title in the Men’s Pair. The duel world champions crossed the line in a time of 6:31.22 to beat home the 2006 national title winners Cameron McKenzie – McHarg (VIC) and James Marburg (VIC).
In the Women’s Pair Sarah Cook (ACT) and Kim Crow (VIC) justified their selection to the 2008 Australian team to win the final in a time of 7:11.40. Liz Kell (NSW) and Sarah Heard (VIC) were close behind in second place with Sally Kehoe (QLD) and Kate Hornsey (TAS) coming home in third.
More finals will be held later on Friday morning with results to follow shortly afterwards.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Thursday 6 March
Hore leads scullers through to final
Kerry Hore (TAS) has set the quickest time in the semi finals of the women’s single scull at the 2008 Australian Rowing Championships in Penrith.
Hore, part of the Australian women’s sculling group, won semi final 2 by two and a half boat lengths in a time of 7:43.9. Sally Robbins (WA) came home in second place, with Sonia Mills (ACT) also qualifying for the A Final in third place.
Pippa Savage (QLD) won semi final 1 in 7:53.38 ahead of West Australians Amber Bradley and Natalie Bale.
Hore said that she was happy with her row this morning and was looking forward to the final tomorrow.
“I had a specific race plan and executed it pretty well out there”, Hore said. “Sally rowed really well next to me and kept pushing me along. The final will be tough tomorrow as all the girls that made it are rowing exceptionally well.”
In the semi finals of the men’s single scull Chris Morgan (SA) and Dan Noonan (NSW) won their races and will enter their A Final as the favourites to win the national title. Peter Hardcastle (NSW) and Nick Hudson (NSW) will also feature strongly in the final.
Amber Halliday (SA) and Marguerite Houston (SA) won their semi finals in the women’s lightweight single scull and will battle it out in the final on Friday morning.
The finals will begin on Friday morning from 8am.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Wednesday 5 March
Australian Rowing Team go to Waugh
The Australian Rowing Team was today addressed by former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh at the 2008 Australian Rowing Championships, Penrith.
Waugh was appointed by the Australian Olympic Committee as one of three Athlete Liaison Officers for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and one of the groups that Waugh will closely work with is the Australian Rowing Team.
During the Olympic Games Waugh will be responsible for liaising with the athletes, delivering motivational speeches and acting as an ambassador of the Australian Olympic Committee.
Today’s talk was Waugh’s first contact with the majority of the athlete’s he will be servicing during the Olympics and an important step in outlining his responsibilities.
“I am attending as part of my role as an AOC Liaison Officer. I am looking forward to an involvement with rowing, it is one of our leading, but least recognized sports. They have a great tradition of delivering medals for Australia”
Rowing Australia Chief Executive Officer Andrew Dee said that the exercise proved an important step for the group in the lead up to the Olympic Games.
“Steve has stepped into his role of responsibility extremely well and all the athletes involved in the meeting now have a clearer sense of his role in the lead up to and during the Olympic Games”, Dee said. “It was a fantastic initiative started by the AOC and Rowing Australia is glad to have someone of Steve’s quality involved.”
The Australian Rowing Championships will continue on Thursday morning with the semi finals of the men’s and women’s single sculls.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Wednesday 5 March
Heavyweight scullers win first round
The women’s double scull heats began today at the 2008 Australian Rowing Championships under cloudy skies at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.
In what was built as the battle of the lightweights and heavyweights, the women’s heavyweight combination of Amy Ives and Zoe Uphill defeated the 2007 lightweight world champions Amber Halliday (SA) and Marguerite Houston (SA) by almost seven seconds. Ives and Uphill move straight through to the final with Halliday and Houston to race in the repechages.
Uphill said that she and Ives were happy with the row.
“The lightweights got out from the start really well and I think that helped us over the first 500 metres”, Uphill said. “The final will be very tough on Friday with some great crews out there but we are looking forward to it.”
In the other heat the 2007 Australian women’s double scull crew of Kerry Hore (TAS) and Amber Bradley (WA) won in a time of 7:03.51. They will also progress to the A Final after finishing ahead of Catriona Sens (VIC) and Sonia Mills (ACT), with third place going to Sally Kehoe (QLD) and Elizabeth Kell (NSW).
The repechages of the women’s double scull will be held on Thursday morning, with the A Final to be held on Friday morning along with a number of other open events.
These will include the final of the men’s and women’s pair, women’s and men’s single scull, men’s double scull and women’s and men’s lightweight single scull.
Full race results and updates will be available at www.rowingaustralia.com.au.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Tuesday 4 March
Savage continues fine national form
Pippa Savage (QLD) has won her heat of the women’s single scull on the second morning of the 2008 Australian Rowing Championships at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.
Savage, who was crowned single, double and quad scull champion at the event last year won her heat in a time of 7:49.19 ahead of Sonia Mills (ACT) and Natalie Bale (WA).
Tasmania’s Kerry Hore also looked smooth across the water as she won Heat 3 in a time of 7:52.94, while Amber Bradley, having recovered from a rib injury set the second quickest time ahead of the semi finals.
Savage said that she was happy with her row this morning.
“It was a good race this morning and great to have Sonia in my heat” Savage said. “We both went for the first 1000, that is what I have been working on with my coach.”
In the heats of the men’s single scull, Chris Morgan (SA) set the best time in winning heat 3 in 7:10.68. He has qualified for the semi finals ahead of the Mosman pair of Peter Hardcastle and Dan Noonan who won their respective heats.
Marguerite Houston (SA) and Alice McNamara (VIC) won their heats of the women’s lightweight single scull, with Amber Halliday (SA) finishing second in her heat behind McNamara.
In the finals of the U23 small boat categories Lisa Szatsznajder (VIC) won the women’s U23 single scull with a fine performance. She won the race in a time of 7:51.20 to finish ahead of Natalie Bale (WA) and Laura Osti (SA).
Queenslander Jared Bidwell won the corresponding event for the men in a time of 7:06.17 ahead of Tom Swann and Chris Riddell. The West Australian combination of Libby Alderman and Emily Rose won the final of the women’s coxless pair by close to 5 lengths in the most impressive row of the morning.
A number of heats will be held this afternoon before more of the open boats begin their regatta on Wednesday morning. The heats of the open men’s double scull and men’s lightweight coxless pair were cancelled today with a straight final now to be held later in the week.
Full race results and updates will be available at www.rowingaustralia.com.au.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Monday 3 March
Sunny skies greet Australian Championships
The 2008 Australian Rowing Championships have begun this morning under sunny skies at the Sydney International Interstate Regatta, Penrith.
With no open races scheduled until Tuesday morning the main focus on the first day lies with the selection trials for the U23 athletes.
In the first race of the morning, Lisa Szatsznadjer (VIC), 2007 silver medallist in the women’s quad scull at the U23 World Championships, set a cracking pace to take her heat in a time of 7:59.49. She won the heat by over five boat lengths and will enter the A Final tomorrow as firm favourite.
Szatsznadjer, who recently competed in the Senior A selection trials in Penrith, is an athlete who has a bright future. Although missing out on selection for the Senior A crews this time around, expect her to be one of the front runners in four year’s time in London.
Racing will conclude at 5pm on the first day, before the Open Women and Men’s single scull begin their heats tomorrow morning.
Full race results and updates will be available at www.rowingaustralia.com.au.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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