Ingram and Lefroy Help Aussies Qualify for #Rio2016
Australia’s Legs, Trunk and Arms Mixed Coxed Four secured an historic victory at the Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta in Italy last weekend, qualifying the boat for the 2016 Rio Games in the process.
The crew of WAIS scholarship duo Brock Ingram and Davinia Lefroy along with Jeremy McGrath and Kate Murdoch (coxed by Jo Burnand) won the A-Final to qualify the boat for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, taking Australia’s rowing section at the 2016 Paralympic Games to three boats, with the Arms, Shoulders Men’s Single Scull and the Trunk and Arms Mixed Double Scull already secured.
In great conditions, with a very slight tail breeze, the crew got out to a good start in Gavirate and were in front by the 500m mark, pressuring the other crews to make their move.
Mosman RC’s Burnand urged her crew to start their run for the line early and, with China hot on their heels, Australia crossed the line first, by half a second, to book a spot in Rio de Janeiro, much to the delight of the cheering Australians in the crowd, including the AIS European Training Centre staff and the Australian Men’s Volleyball Team.
Post-race, Jeremy McGrath, said it was humbling to be part of history for Australia.
“From taking part in the LTA Mixed Double Sculls in 2014, it has been fantastic to have been involved in the development of the LTA category and qualifying the LTAMix4+ for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. It makes it even more special that this is the first time Australia has qualified this boat for the Paralympic Games,” he said.
Kate Murdoch, who trains out of Nepean Rowing Club, echoed McGrath’s sentiment adding: “It’s the first time Australia has qualified this boat for the Paralympic Games and it has been a massive team effort during the last Paralympic cycle. The support from Rowing Australia, the State Institutes and Academies of Sport, State Associations, coaches, clubs, friends, family and other athletes have really ensured this sport class has grown.”
General Manager of Sport, Jaime Fernandez said: “The athletes are of course to be congratulated first and foremost, while I would also like to thank Gordon Marcks and Tara Huntly in Rowing Australia’s para-rowing department for their hard work along with the support and efforts of the States and Clubs across the country that have made us the current number one para-rowing nation in the world.”
In addition to winning the Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta, the crew then backed up a hard a morning of racing by winning the International Para-Rowing Regatta held on the same day in Gavirate, Italy.
The Australian crew took on some crews who had qualified for the 2016 Paralympic Games at last year’s 2015 World Rowing Championships and paced themselves through the race knowing the competition would be strong.
In a slight cross-tail wind, the crew came out of the starting blocks in fourth but chipped their way through the field to hit the lead at the 400m mark to finish powerfully in first place, followed by South Africa and Ukraine (both of which are qualified for Rio in 2016).
Post-race, Brock Ingram, who trains at West Australian Rowing Club alongside Davinia Lefroy, commented: “After being pushed by the Chinese in the first race [the qualification regatta], it was always going to be hard to back up. I am really proud of the crew who dug deep and got the job done.”
Senior Para-Rowing Coach Gordon Marcks commented: “We’re delighted to see this crew come through to win not just one final this weekend but two. The crew have worked hard and it’s fantastic to see such progression from the category over the last few years. I’m looking forward to seeing how all our categories perform on the global stage at the upcoming Paralympic Games.”
– RowingAus