Melbourne University Sport - News

Uni rowers medal haul at National Championships
10 March 2009; Rod Warnecke

Melbourne University students, club members and alumni won 13 national titles at Lake Barrington in Tasmania over the weekend. A further 15 crews won medals across the sweep and sculling events, and the Victorian boats contesting the interstate regatta were well represented by University rowers.

Beijing Olympic silver medalists and Melbourne University Boat Club (MUBC) members James Marburg and Cameron McKenzie-McHarg (Science alumna) defended their Open Men’s Coxless Pair title with victory over club-mate and Architecture student Tom Larkins and his partner from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Larkins would later win the national title as part of the AIS-composite crew in the Open Men’s Coxless Four.

Optometry student Phoebe Stanley won gold in the Open Women’s Coxless Pair with her Victorian Institute of Sport partner, while MUBC club-mates Sophie Robson (Arts/Science alumna) and Sylvie Withers took the bronze. Will Lockwood was also a member of the victorious Under 23 Men’s Coxless Pair.

Boat Club lightweights also had success with Angus Tyers part of the winning Under 23 Men’s Lightweight Double Scull, while 2008 World Champion Alice McNamara (Science) was successful in the Open Women’s Lightweight Double Scull. McNamara and MUBC club-mate Yasmin Burraston also won gold as part of a composite crew in the Open Women’s Lightweight Quad Scull.

Asked for his regatta highlight, new MUBC Club Coach Andy Cruickshank couldn’t choose just one.

“The Under 23 Men’s Coxless Four was a great result, as was the Under 23 Men’s Lightweight Coxless Four. And then of course our Open Women’s Eight absolutely crushed their opponents with the girls saying that the boat ran even better than the Victorian Eight”.

James Adams (Science), Simon Booth (Architecture), Will Lockwood and Dan Sweeney (Commerce) crewed the Under 23 Men’s Coxless Four, while James Osborne (Commerce) and Angus Tyers were part of the composite Lightweight Coxless Four. The Open Women’s Eight, who defeated Sydney University by a massive 13 seconds was crewed by Alice McNamara, Sylvie Withers, Alex Hill (Medicine), Jess Hill (Physiotherapy), Sophie Robson, Phoebe Stanley, Ali Crowe, Sarah Heard and Lizzie Patrick. Stanley and Heard also won gold in the MUBC – VIS-composite Open Women’s Coxless Four.

MUBC Head Coach Ian Wright concurred with Cruickshank’s highlights and also rated the silver medal of sisters Alex and Jess Hill who missed out on the Under 23 Women’s Coxless Pair title by less than a second.

“The girls have still got a couple of years in the Under 23 age group and to see them come so close to a national title at this stage of their rowing is very exciting”.

Alumna and 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medalist David Crawshay lay claim to the title of Australia’s best male sculler with victory in the Open Men’s Single Scull. He also collected the bronze medal in the Open Men’s Double Scull. Chris Riddell (Engineering) won gold in the Open Men’s Coxed Four, while Lisa Szatsznadjer (Arts alumna) was part of the AIS-composite crew that won the Open Women’s Quad Scull.

Following the National Championships, Victoria won the Rowing Australia Cup as overall winners of the Interstate Regatta. Melbourne University students, club members and alumni contributed 29 of 46 Victorian representatives. David Crawshay took gold in the Interstate Men’s Single Scull. Lachie McKenzie (Arts), Michael Poulter, Jack Macciolli, Tom Simpson, Daniel Sweeney and coxswain Amelia Agosta crewed the winning Interstate Men’s Youth Eight. MUBC’s Tom Woodruff coached the crew. Sophie Robson, Phoebe Stanley, Ali Crowe, Sarah Heard, Lizzie Patrick and Lisa Szatsznadjer also defended the Queen’s Cup in the Interstate Women’s Eight.

Attention now turns to national selection trials in Penrith, NSW in mid-April for the 2009 Senior, Under 23 and Junior World Championships.

MUBC Men's
Cameron McKenzie-McHarg and James Marburg holding the spoils of victory from the Open Men’s Pair (Tom Larkins, who finished second, is next to Cameron)

MUBC Womens
Optometry student Phoebe Stanley holds the Winner's Shield for the Open Women’s Coxless Pair with her Victorian Institute of Sport partner, while MUBC club-mates Sophie Robson (Arts/Science alumna) and Sylvie Withers took the bronze.

- 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 Group Fitness Health Services Clubs Sport and Recreation Ski Lodge About Us Contact Us News Archive Merchandise	Uni rowers medal haul at National Championships 10 March 2009; Rod Warnecke Melbourne University students, club members and alumni won 13 national titles at Lake Barrington in Tasmania over the weekend. A further 15 crews won medals across the sweep and sculling events, and the Victorian boats contesting the interstate regatta were well represented by University rowers. Beijing Olympic silver medalists and Melbourne University Boat Club (MUBC) members James Marburg and Cameron McKenzie-McHarg (Science alumna) defended their Open Men’s Coxless Pair title with victory over club-mate and Architecture student Tom Larkins and his partner from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Larkins would later win the national title as part of the AIS-composite crew in the Open Men’s Coxless Four. Optometry student Phoebe Stanley won gold in the Open Women’s Coxless Pair with her Victorian Institute of Sport partner, while MUBC club-mates Sophie Robson (Arts/Science alumna) and Sylvie Withers took the bronze. Will Lockwood was also a member of the victorious Under 23 Men’s Coxless Pair. Boat Club lightweights also had success with Angus Tyers part of the winning Under 23 Men’s Lightweight Double Scull, while 2008 World Champion Alice McNamara (Science) was successful in the Open Women’s Lightweight Double Scull. McNamara and MUBC club-mate Yasmin Burraston also won gold as part of a composite crew in the Open Women’s Lightweight Quad Scull. Asked for his regatta highlight, new MUBC Club Coach Andy Cruickshank couldn’t choose just one. “The Under 23 Men’s Coxless Four was a great result, as was the Under 23 Men’s Lightweight Coxless Four. And then of course our Open Women’s Eight absolutely crushed their opponents with the girls saying that the boat ran even better than the Victorian Eight”. James Adams (Science), Simon Booth (Architecture), Will Lockwood and Dan Sweeney (Commerce) crewed the Under 23 Men’s Coxless Four, while James Osborne (Commerce) and Angus Tyers were part of the composite Lightweight Coxless Four. The Open Women’s Eight, who defeated Sydney University by a massive 13 seconds was crewed by Alice McNamara, Sylvie Withers, Alex Hill (Medicine), Jess Hill (Physiotherapy), Sophie Robson, Phoebe Stanley, Ali Crowe, Sarah Heard and Lizzie Patrick. Stanley and Heard also won gold in the MUBC – VIS-composite Open Women’s Coxless Four. MUBC Head Coach Ian Wright concurred with Cruickshank’s highlights and also rated the silver medal of sisters Alex and Jess Hill who missed out on the Under 23 Women’s Coxless Pair title by less than a second. “The girls have still got a couple of years in the Under 23 age group and to see them come so close to a national title at this stage of their rowing is very exciting”. Alumna and 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medalist David Crawshay lay claim to the title of Australia’s best male sculler with victory in the Open Men’s Single Scull. He also collected the bronze medal in the Open Men’s Double Scull. Chris Riddell (Engineering) won gold in the Open Men’s Coxed Four, while Lisa Szatsznadjer (Arts alumna) was part of the AIS-composite crew that won the Open Women’s Quad Scull. Following the National Championships, Victoria won the Rowing Australia Cup as overall winners of the Interstate Regatta. Melbourne University students, club members and alumni contributed 29 of 46 Victorian representatives. David Crawshay took gold in the Interstate Men’s Single Scull. Lachie McKenzie (Arts), Michael Poulter, Jack Macciolli, Tom Simpson, Daniel Sweeney and coxswain Amelia Agosta crewed the winning Interstate Men’s Youth Eight. MUBC’s Tom Woodruff coached the crew. Sophie Robson, Phoebe Stanley, Ali Crowe, Sarah Heard, Lizzie Patrick and Lisa Szatsznadjer also defended the Queen’s Cup in the Interstate Women’s Eight. Attention now turns to national selection trials in Penrith, NSW in mid-April for the 2009 Senior, Under 23 and Junior World Championships. Cameron McKenzie-McHarg and James Marburg holding the spoils of victory from the Open Men’s Pair (Tom Larkins, who finished second, is next to Cameron) Optometry student Phoebe Stanley holds the Winner's Shield for the Open Women’s Coxless Pair with her Victorian Institute of Sport partner, while MUBC club-mates Sophie Robson (Arts/Science alumna) and Sylvie Withers took the bronze. - END - For further information, contact: Rod Warnecke, Sport Development Manager Mob: 0403 199 700 Fax: +613 8344 5583 Email: rod.warnecke@unimelb.edu.au