Australian Rowing Team Complete Impressive World Cup Performance in Poland
The Australian Rowing Team has produced a highly impressive performance at World Cup II in Poland winning three gold, two silver and three bronze medals in the Olympic class events to top the medal table and points rankings.
The performance marks the first time Australia has led the medal rankings in Europe, whilst it is the first time since 2006 that the nation has topped the points table.
From a Western Australian perspective, Annabelle McIntyre was a member of two medal winning crews. She won gold in the women’s eight final along with Bronwyn Cox. She also earned silver with Jessica Morrison in the final of the women’s pair.
David Watts and the Australian men’s quad scull crew finished second behind the Poland team. Josh Hicks and the men’s eight were fifth, and Lilly Tinapple missed the A Final in the women’s pair.
Women’s Eight – Gold
The Australian women’s eight made a bright start to the international racing season to secure a gold medal in a tight finish with the USA. McIntyre and Cox were joined by; Leah Saunders, Jacinta Edmunds, Georgina Rowe, Rosemary Popa, Jessica Morrison, Molly Goodman with the crew coxed by James Rook.
The US had set the fastest qualifying time, but the Australians got out quicker in the final, and led throughout. The US crew were third at the first 500m, but steadily picked up their tempo and were putting significant pressure on the Aussies at the finish.
Georgia Rowe speaking on behalf of the group said the result had been hard fought.
“I enjoyed that race a lot but we really had to dig in when the USA was coming at us. We stayed tight together and it paid off.”
1st – AUS: 06:26.290
2nd – USA: 06:27.740
3rd – GBR: 06:32:.040
Women’s Pair – Silver
Ahead of the women’s eight final, Annabelle McIntyre and Jessica Morrison had earned themselves a silver medal in the final of the women’s pair.
The race was won by the New Zealand combination of Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler. The Kiwis established a sizeable lead to the 1500m mark, and whilst they were never in any danger of relinquishing victory, the Australia crew did produce a powerful back end to close the gap significantly at the line.
Racing into a strong headwind, McIntyre said they probably left themselves with too much work to do after the first split, but was pleased with their first hitout overseas.
“It was difficult out there, it was quite rocky. Congratulations to New Zealand, they raced well. The last 500 metres we just tried to lift the race and smoothen out as much as possible as I think we were a bit too tense in the first portion. I’m really happy with the result as it’s our first international race this season.”
1st – NZL: 07:35.550
2nd – AUS: 07:37.250
3rd – USA: 07:43.730
Lilly Tinapple and Georgina Gotch were third in the C Final in 07:56.780.
Men’s Quad Scull – Silver
Having won world championship silver in 2018, the Australian men’s quad scull have demonstrated that they will again be around the mark in the 2019 international racing season.
In Poznan, they elected to retain a race strategy that focuses on the middle thousand metres, which saw them towards the back of the field at the halfway mark before their surge took them ahead of three rival crews.
Poland in contrast, went out hard and managed to maintain, whilst New Zealand were last at the first marker, before middling at three for the remainder of the race.
Watts, sitting in the stroke seat was joined by Caleb Antill, Cameron Girdlestone and Alexander Purnell.
Antill suggested the Aussies were short of their best race execution but was impressed with the quality of the race field.
“Considering the conditions we knew it was going to be a long race but we decided to keep to what we know and really get that speed in the middle thousand. We had a bit of a slip up in the last thousand but congrats to Poland, that was a great race.”
1st – POL: 06:01.010
2nd – AUS: 06:03.210
3rd – NZL: 06:03.480
Men’s Eight – Fifth
The Australian men’s eight couldn’t make inroads against the fastest nations in their final, with the Aussies chasing the pack throughout.
Hicks joined; Liam Donald, Robert Black, Angus Moore, Spencer Turrin, Simon Keenan, James Medway, Angus Widdicombe, with Kendall Brodie in the cox seat.
They passed the 500m markers in fourth place but slipped to fifth thereafter with the Germans setting an impressive pace at the front.
1st – GER: 05:45.830
2nd – GBR: 05:47.740
3rd – CAN: 05:48.440
5th – AUS: 05:51.580
The Australian Rowing Team also recorded medal performances in the following boats:
Men’s Pair – Gold
Men’s Four – Gold
Men’s Lightweight Double Scull – Bronze
Women’s Single Scull – Bronze
Women’s Four – Bronze
Women’s Double Scull – Bronze
Further ART details.
Photos: © Rowing Australia