WAIS Rowers Compete at U23 World Champs

Australia’s women’s quad scull flew the flag for the Australian Under 23 Rowing Team with a bronze medal at the Under 23 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam, Holland.

AIS-WAIS athlete Alexandra Hagan along with Katrina Bateman (VIC), Amy Fowler (ACT) and Jess Hall (QLD) produced an excellent row in the final to claim third place behind Germany and Italy.

Australia was in second place through 1000m, locked in a tight battle with Italy for second place, but with the Italians proving too strong over the closing stages, Australia then held off a strong challenge from New Zealand for third place in a time of 6:30.88.

The women’s pair of Olympia Aldersey (SA) and Renee Chatterton (SA) claimed fourth place in their final, finishing just over three seconds shy of third placed, The Netherlands.

The South Australian duo clocked a time of 7:21.12, while the United States and Romania claimed the gold and silver medals.

Australia’s women’s four crew coached by WAIS coach Rebecca Sattin also finished in fourth place with WAIS athletes Ashleigh Miles and Hannah Vermeersch competing with Peta White (SA) and Francesca Paterson (QLD) to record a time of 6:44.65 to cross the line behind Germany, Italy and The Netherlands.

The Australian men’s eight squad containing WAIS scholarship holders Tom Gatti and Brendan Murray missed the A Final but competed well to claim the B Final title in a time of 5:39.20.

The Australian Under 23 team will now return home, while the Australian Junior Team is currently in transit in Europe to compete in the 2011 Junior World Rowing Championships.

The regatta will serve as the official test event for the Olympic regatta at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

 -Rowing Australia