Rowers return to international competition with medals at World Rowing Cup in Poland

Seven WAIS scholarship holders and graduates, from Olympic Champions to debutants represented Australia at the World Rowing Cup in Poznan, Poland, 17-19 June.

Leading the charge was Tokyo Olympic Champion, Annabelle McIntyre, who stroked the women’s four to gold. She was joined in the boat by fellow WAIS graduate Bronwyn Cox, and Lucy Stephan and Kartina Werry who claimed victory in 6mins 39.72secs, a second and a half clear of the Netherlands, with Ireland in bronze.

“It is very exciting definitely [on being back racing], not quite nerve wracking. It has been a while since raced at a World Cup, so it is really exciting to get back out there and just see what we can do in a new combination,” said McIntyre.

“It’s a new cycle, new people, new beginning for the next cycle so it is really exciting to get out there and see where we can go with it.

Olympic bronze medallist Jack Cleary combined with Caleb Antill in a hotly contested men’s double scull. The pair were neck and neck with the Netherlands for the bronze medal, with a photo finish unable to split the boats, with both awarded bronze behind Croatia and Poland.

“The target for this regatta was to build as we go with each race,” said Cleary.

“Racing is training and training is racing. We have learnt a lot of valuable lessons in the heat and semi final and in to the final, so Henley is just another opportunity prove in what we know makes the boat go fast and build towards the World Champs and World Cup III.”

In the women’s eight, Tokyo Olympian Giorgia Patten, fellow WAIS rower Jacqueline Swick combined with Eleanor Price, Jean Mitchell, Paige Barr, Ella Bramwell, Georgina Rowe and Emma Fessey. Their time of 6:30.28 saw them complete the podium behind The Nethelands and Denmark.

Sam Marsh finished eighth in the men’s single scull and Genevieve Hart (WAIS) with Eliza Gaffney claimed 11th in the women’s pair.