Melbourne University Sport -

Melbourne tops Uni Games medal tally
5 October 2009; Rod Warnecke

The University of Melbourne has topped the Australian University Games medal tally for the second successive year, winning seven Australian University Championships on the Gold Coast last week.

Melbourne won its seven national championships in AFL, Badminton – Men, Badminton – Women, Fencing, Football (Soccer) – Men, Squash - Men and Volleyball – Women.

The University was runners-up in a further six sporting competitions, placing second in Basketball – Men, Cycling, Golf, Kendo, Netball – Women and Squash – Women; while the five sports of Athletics – Women, Basketball – Women, Hockey – Women, Table Tennis and Touch – Mixed placed third overall. A further four teams – Beach Volleyball – Men, Hockey – Men, Taekwondo and Water Polo – Men – just finished out of the medals in fourth position.

All in all, 22 of the University’s 41 sporting teams placed in the top four at the Games where most competitions fielded 20 – 30 starters (Athletics was represented by 43 universities).

Melbourne University Sport Director Mr. Tim Lee was rightly proud of the University’s results.

“Winning seven Australian University Championships at the Games was a wonderful achievement. And to finish atop the medal tally for the second successive year after winning ten championships in Melbourne last year, shows that our sporting programs and thirst for success are alive and well at the University”, said Mr. Lee.

“But just as important as our success at the Games, was the fact that some 400 plus student-athletes and officials committed their time and energies into representing the University during their mid-semester vacation period. And each and every representative looked to compete to the best of their abilities during the week, which made for a wonderful event both on and off the sporting field”, added Mr. Lee.

The University of Melbourne team was represented by a raft of elite student-athletes including World Champion swimmer Marieke Guehrer; Australian goal-keeper Victoria Brown (Water Polo); Beijing Olympian Angela Darby (Modern Pentathlon); professional cyclist Daniel Braunsteins (Drapac-Porsche); Melbourne Tigers basketballer Tom Stephens; Australian Modern Pentathlete Charlotte Curnow (Fencing); VFL footballers Clinton Benjamin (North Ballarat) and Matt Kilpin (Port Melbourne); and Australian badminton representatives Luke Chong, Erica Pong and Jeff Tho.

A number of siblings also represented the University at the 2009 Games: Stella McNamara (Athletics), Charlotte McNamara (Basketball) and Alice McNamara (Rowing – which was held in Canberra at the same time as the AUG); Joseph Brukner (Baseball) and Charles Brukner (Hockey); Charlotte and Stephanie Righetti (Basketball); Tom Stephens (Basketball) and Alice Stephens (Netball); Mark and Paul O’Reilly (Surfing); Elizabeth and Michelle Motteram (Touch); Michael and Paul Rogers (Touch); and Benjamin and Michelle Phillips (Ultimate Frisbee).

The Australian University Games heads to Perth, WA for 2010, while Australian University Championship – Distance Running (Sunday 11 October) and Australian University Championship – Twenty20 Cricket (7 – 10 December) complete the 2009 calendar of inter-university sporting events.

- END -
For further information, contact:
Rod Warnecke, Sport Development Manager
Mob: 0403 199 700
Fax: +613 8344 5583
Email: rod.warnecke@unimelb.edu.au


Home Membership Facilities Aquatics Group Fitness Health Services Boot Camp Clubs Sport and Recreation Photo Gallery Ski Lodge About Us Staff Contact Us News Archive Merchandise	Melbourne tops Uni Games medal tally 5 October 2009; Rod Warnecke The University of Melbourne has topped the Australian University Games medal tally for the second successive year, winning seven Australian University Championships on the Gold Coast last week. Melbourne won its seven national championships in AFL, Badminton – Men, Badminton – Women, Fencing, Football (Soccer) – Men, Squash - Men and Volleyball – Women. The University was runners-up in a further six sporting competitions, placing second in Basketball – Men, Cycling, Golf, Kendo, Netball – Women and Squash – Women; while the five sports of Athletics – Women, Basketball – Women, Hockey – Women, Table Tennis and Touch – Mixed placed third overall. A further four teams – Beach Volleyball – Men, Hockey – Men, Taekwondo and Water Polo – Men – just finished out of the medals in fourth position. All in all, 22 of the University’s 41 sporting teams placed in the top four at the Games where most competitions fielded 20 – 30 starters (Athletics was represented by 43 universities). Melbourne University Sport Director Mr. Tim Lee was rightly proud of the University’s results. “Winning seven Australian University Championships at the Games was a wonderful achievement. And to finish atop the medal tally for the second successive year after winning ten championships in Melbourne last year, shows that our sporting programs and thirst for success are alive and well at the University”, said Mr. Lee. “But just as important as our success at the Games, was the fact that some 400 plus student-athletes and officials committed their time and energies into representing the University during their mid-semester vacation period. And each and every representative looked to compete to the best of their abilities during the week, which made for a wonderful event both on and off the sporting field”, added Mr. Lee. The University of Melbourne team was represented by a raft of elite student-athletes including World Champion swimmer Marieke Guehrer; Australian goal-keeper Victoria Brown (Water Polo); Beijing Olympian Angela Darby (Modern Pentathlon); professional cyclist Daniel Braunsteins (Drapac-Porsche); Melbourne Tigers basketballer Tom Stephens; Australian Modern Pentathlete Charlotte Curnow (Fencing); VFL footballers Clinton Benjamin (North Ballarat) and Matt Kilpin (Port Melbourne); and Australian badminton representatives Luke Chong, Erica Pong and Jeff Tho. A number of siblings also represented the University at the 2009 Games: Stella McNamara (Athletics), Charlotte McNamara (Basketball) and Alice McNamara (Rowing – which was held in Canberra at the same time as the AUG); Joseph Brukner (Baseball) and Charles Brukner (Hockey); Charlotte and Stephanie Righetti (Basketball); Tom Stephens (Basketball) and Alice Stephens (Netball); Mark and Paul O’Reilly (Surfing); Elizabeth and Michelle Motteram (Touch); Michael and Paul Rogers (Touch); and Benjamin and Michelle Phillips (Ultimate Frisbee). The Australian University Games heads to Perth, WA for 2010, while Australian University Championship – Distance Running (Sunday 11 October) and Australian University Championship – Twenty20 Cricket (7 – 10 December) complete the 2009 calendar of inter-university sporting events. - END - For further information, contact: Rod Warnecke, Sport Development Manager Mob: 0403 199 700 Fax: +613 8344 5583 Email: rod.warnecke@unimelb.edu.au