Melbourne Uni wins University Games Regatta
published: 04-Oct-2011 Over three days, crews from Melbourne University dominated the University Games regatta in Sydney, confirming Melbourne's position as the best rowing university in Australia.
W1X – win – top quality athletes in the field, with Sarah Tait beating Sarah Cook convincingly. Bravo Sarah!
LW1X – cancelled – Alice won the race for lanes convincingly, but was denied the chance to race for the trophy by the conditions. Would anyone have beaten her? No!
W2X – cancelled – BUT our lightweights Gracie and Jane looked good for a bronze had the race gone ahead. This would have been excellent, but the win in the repechage was a highlight for me
W2- - second – in the awful headwind, the Pia and Emma put in a terrific effort to row through the Sydney pair, only to find the wind too much in the end. This was a terrific battle which will strengthen their resolve for the boat Race.
LW4X – sank – started in the most ridiculous conditions I have seen, the girls battled against the elements but were overcome as their competitors rowed in larger women’s boats rode above the waves. Sydney, who we bet in the heat, went on to win.
W4+ - win – a dominant performance, no one came near. Result.
W8 – win – our targeted event, dominant in the heat, and more so in the final. Great to have a mix of top class Olympic experience and developing Uni rowers. That’s what is special about Uni Games.
M1X – cancelled – a sensible decision, Jordan would most likely have placed fourth behind two senior internationals (McRae and Reedman) and U23 rep Jackson. I’d say that would have been a great result.
LM1X – cancelled – defending champion Stuart was excited about the head wind which suited him more, and eyeing a podium finish. Lucky he’s now on a post grad law course and has more time at MU!
M2X – win – a high quality field this, Sean and Zac made a good start and a decisive move at 750 gone gave them full control of the race. A classy row.
M2- - cancelled – Dan and Tom were second in the race for lanes, behind Purnell and Buckland, but were unable to cement that position due to the conditions. Still, a commanding row in the heat in which the boys had more to give
M4+ - win – Veteran IV rower Simon Booth’s most satisfying victory over a strong Sydney crew. In the preceding B final, only one four made it to the finish line in outrageous conditions that sank the LW4X a race previously. This win was a crucial step towards securing the team trophy.
LM4- win – a classy row from De Lang, Lake, Alexander and Quinlan, the win was never in doubt. A good LM4-, this.
M8 – win – with such a strong crew, anything other than a decisive victory would have been failure. Confiding after the race, Marby said he was pretty nervous about this race for the most coveted trophy in Aus rowing, the Oxford Cambridge Cup. MU stopped Adelaide’s recent run of three victories with a very good row taking the race from the first stroke, and moving away down the track the whole time.