WA Rowers in Action at World Cup III

Western Australia’s competing senior and U23 rowers have enjoyed a successful campaign at World Cup III in Lucerne over the weekend.

Josh Hicks was part of a gold medal winning men’s four crew for Australia, whilst David Watts, Hannah Vermeersch and the U23 duo of Bronwyn Cox and Giorgia Patten also impressed with A Final appearances.

The men’s four has been a dominant force over the world cup season and they will be the team to beat at this year’s World Championships in Bulgaria in September.

At World Cup III they again underlined their calibre, finishing comfortably ahead of crews from the Netherlands and South Africa in a time of 5:51.400.

Hicks raced in the bow seat for Australia, joined in action by Alexander Hill in stroke, with Spencer Turrin and Jack Hargreaves filling seats two and three respectively.

In the men’s quad scull final, Watts and the Australian crew produced a late surge to finish fifth – ahead of Lithuania, with Great Britain taking victory.

 

   

Great Britain was in a four-way fight for gold with crews from the Netherlands, Poland and Germany. With 500m to go, very little separated the nations, but a turn of pace from the GB crew late on, saw them take gold by over half a boat length at the line.

The Australian women’s eight crew featuring London Olympian Hannah Vermeersch qualified and raced in the A Final taking fifth place.

New Zealand took victory ahead of Canada and the USA. Australia lost touch with the leaders in the second 500m, and were not able to bridge the divide in the second kilometre of the race.

WA’s U23 World Championships bound athletes Bronwyn Cox and Giorgia Patten warmed up for their major titles in the best possible fashion with an A Final appearance in the women’s pair.

The girls finished sixth in a time of 7:26.650 and will now take their experience of competing against a quality senior international field on for their U23 campaign which commences in Poland this month.

 

  

They will be joined at the U23 World Championships by single scull rower Sam Marsh, who raced in the C Final at World Cup III.

Marsh completed the race in fifth place, with a time of 7:05.960.

Photos: © Rowing Australia