Strong winds don’t fluster rowers
by Thomas Nickson

Blustery cross-headwind conditions, transformed Nagambie Lakes to surf, and forced the eventual abandonment of racing, at the weekend’s Ballarat Regatta.  Despite challenging and slow conditions, MUBC rowers were strong performers in the events completed before conditions deteriorated.

In the Men’s Open Pair, Australian representatives, and reigning national champions, James Marburg and Cameron McKenzie-McHarg, grinded their way to a hard fought victory over club mates Christian Ryan and Karsten Forsterling. Nick Phelps, along with Mercantile pair partner Alistar Taylor, placed third.

In the Women’s Open Single, national lightweight representative Alice McNamara went stroke for stroke with her bigger opponents, finishing second behind Athens Olympian Sarah Outhwaite. In the Women’s Open Lightweight Single, club newcomer, Yasmin Burrsaton posted her first win in MUBC colours, with Andrea Dixon placing third. Burraston has recently moved from the ACT, and will be a valuable addition to the club’s already highly regarded and talented women’s lightweight squad.

In the other highlight of the day, the men’s youth squad displayed their new-found depth, claming the quinella in the Youth Coxed Four, from rivals Mercantile in third. 2006 Victorian Youth Eight members Simon Booth, James Adams and Angus Tyers joined Tom Mosley and cox Sophie Jamieson in the MUBC’s number one boat, to dominate the field.

MUBC also recorded victories in the Men’s Open Eight, B Grade Coxed Four and Single Scull, and Women’s U/23 Pair, B Grade Pair, and C Grade Single Scull.