Bronze Medal for Hagan and Vermeersch

WAIS rowers Alex Hagan and Hannah Vermeersch have won a bronze medal in the women’s four at the 2013 Rowing World Championships in Chungju, Korea.

The Western Australia pair joined by Victorians Charlotte Sutherland and Lucy Stephan finished third in the final, behind USA and Canada, to add a senior world championship medal to the U23 World Title the quartet won recently in Austria.

The Australians were fast out at the start and held second position after the first 500m split, but from that point on, the American crew showed their credentials with a powerful middle third setting up a comfortable victory.

Hagan and Vermeersch were also members of the Australian women’s eight boat that finished in fifth place in the A Final. USA picked up the gold, with silver and bronze going to Romania and Canada respectively.

In the men’s eight, Australia won the B Final, ahead of Italy, Russia and Korea. WAIS athlete Tom Gatti performed the role of stroke for the Australian crew.

In the women’s double scull, featuring WAIS athlete Maia Simmonds alongside Alice McNamara, there was another b Final win for Australia. Having finished fourth in their semi final, and missing out narrowly on a spot in the A Final, Simmonds and McNamara showed they were the best of the rest, producing a solid row to finish well clear of Sweden and South Africa.

Perry Ward raced in the men’s lightweight quad scull, with the Australian boat finishing fifth in the final. Greece won gold, with Germany and Italy rounding out the podium.

With only three nations contesting the men’s lightweight eight, a medal was guaranteed for the Australian crew in the final. WAIS athlete Tim Widdicombe helped the boat to a silver medal, with Italy winning the World title and the USA in third.

Australia comes away from the regatta placing second on the medal tally behind Italy, with a total of six medals – three gold, two silver and one bronze.