In a stunning performance on the world stage, several rowers selected in the Initial Squad for the University of Sydney at the Australian Boat Race competed over the weekend at the World Rowing Championships.
Olympian Tara Rigney claimed Bronze in the A-Final of the Women’s Single, making her debut at the World Championships.
In a stellar performance, Tara pushed in with confidence ahead of the New Zealand Olympic
Champion at 500m, in second. The Kiwi pushed through to chase the leading Dutch woman in a tight field. Tara was then also getting pressed by China, who looked like she would threaten a podium finish, but Tara held onto the Bronze.
“It was a tough race, I have to give it to the Chinese sculler, she pushed me to the limit. This race was exactly the nature of the World Championships, with hard, intense racing. This season has been a bit of a surprise, I didn’t know what to expect so obviously it’s a huge achievement,” Tara said.
Another Bronze for the Australian Team came from the Men’s Eight, Jackson Kench and Will
O’Shannessy from the ABR Initial Squad raced alongside crew members, Sam Hardy, Angus
Widdocmbe, Benjamin Canham, Henry Youl, Nick Lavery, Rohan Lavery and cox Kendall Brodie. They had a fantastic row in the A-Final setting an early rhythm and starting the race as they meant to continue, going through the halfway mark in third, behind the British and the Dutch. They held off pushes from the rest of the field to hold onto Bronze.
Stroke man, Jackson Kench said: “It was a crazy race, the Men’s Eight is always a spectacle. We had to double-check where we finished. There was such a high-quality field, anyone could have finished with a medal.”
In the Women’s Eight rowed ABR Initial Squad members Eleanor Price and cox Talia Barnett-Hepples alongside teammates Emma Fessey, Georgie Rowe, Giorgia Patten, Ella Branwell, Jacqui Swick, Jean Mitchell. The crew had a strong technical row in the A-Final. They crossed the line in fifth, ahead of China, matching the result from last year’s Olympics.
In the Women’s Lightweight Double, Lucy Coleman alongside her partner Anneka Reardon, placed 4th in the B-Final, coming in 10th overall.
It was a strong round of medals for the Initial Squad athletes, putting them in fine form for the
Australian Boat Race against the Melburnians on October 16 in Darling Harbour next month.