Australia wins first round of 2018 Under 21 Trans-Tasman Regatta

Australia closed off the first leg of the 2018 Trans-Tasman Regatta with a two-point lead over New Zealand.

In this regatta, designed to bridge the gap between Under 19 (Junior) and Under 23 categories which have full international World Championships each year, a team of athletes combines into various different crews. Points are awarded in the finals as follows:

1. 1st – 6 points, 2nd – 4 points, 3rd – 2 points and 4th – 1 point for –W1x, M1x, W2- and M2-.
2. 1st – 6 points and 2nd – 4 points for LW2x, LM2x, W4-, M4-, W4x, M4x, W8+ and M8+.
3. 1st – 2 points and 2nd – 1 point for LW1x, LM1x and MixL2x.

In testing conditions, the crews took to the water of the Sydney International Regatta Centre last Thursday morning to contest heats and finals in small boats. Wins came for Alex Grzeskowiak in the Men’s Single Scull, Paddy Holt and Nick Lavery (both UTS) in the Men’s Pair and Charlotte Wirtz in the Women’s Single Scull. New Zealand won all four of the lightweight events (single and double sculls, men’s and women’s) and the Women’s Pair. However, with multiple second, third and fourth placings, Australia finished the first day with a two point lead.

The second day of the regatta saw the teams step into Fours and Quadruple Sculls, while the reserves stepped into the Lightweight Mixed Double Sculls for racing. The Australian Men’s Coxless Four of Alex Nichol, Jackson Kench (both Sydney RC), Paddy Holt and Nick Lavery (UTS) beat their New Zealand counterparts in the heat and the final by a five second margin, whilst the Aussie Women’s Four lost. In the Quad Sculls, the New Zealand women also proved victorious over Australia’s crew of Celia Cowan, Michaela Franz (Sydney University), Charlotte Wirtz and Olivia Bartram (UTS). In the Men’s Quadruple Scull final, Nathan Kennedy, Rohan James, Matthew Murray (Sydney University) and Alex Grzeskowiak won over NZ.

Saturday saw much calmer conditions for big boat racing. The team combined into Openweight Eights for heats and finals, with the lightweight reserves racing alongside in a quad. Once again the NZ women led the Aussies in both the heat and the final, whilst the Australian men’s eight secured a commanding win despite increasingly choppy water and very slow conditions. Australia’s Women’s Eight featured Celia Cowan, Michaela Franz, Alexandra Findlay, Ella Bramwell, Sky Froebel, Kirstie Green, Charlotte Wirtz, Olivia Bartram and coxswain Phoebe Georgakas. The Men’s Eight line up was (from bow) Nathan Kennedy, Rohan James, Matthew Murray, Alex Grzeskowiak, Alex Nichol, Jackson Kench, Nick Lavery, Paddy Holt and coxswain Andrew Le.

At the end of the day Australia came away with 141 points to New Zealand’s 139. Australian U21 Team Head Coach, Jason Lane said: “The team has set themselves up well at the conclusion of the first leg of the regatta but there’s plenty for us to build on in the coming weeks, especially as we only have a two point lead over the Kiwis.

“The athletes will return to their home bases, training in small boats, and then we’ll reconvene in Canberra for a pre-departure camp in August, training in big boats, before we travel to Lake Karapiro for the second leg of the Trans-Tasman.

“It has been an extremely enjoyable weekend of rowing and I’d like to extend my gratitude and congratulations to the New Zealand team for making it such a competitive weekend of racing.”

**UPDATE**

The following NSW representatives have been announced to represent Australia in the U21 Trans-Tasman Regatta that  takes place from 23 to 25 August on Lake Karapiro, New Zealand.