Sydney University Boat Club (SUBC) has 13 representatives in the Australian squad to contest the 2022 World Cups in Serbia and Poland in June and July.
The senior men’s and women’s crews and squads will contest in the World Rowing Cup 2 at Poznan from 17-19 June and World Rowing Cup 3 at Lucerne from 8-10 July. Australia will also send crews to the Henley Royal Regatta from 28 June to 3 July.
The six-member women’s sculling squad includes SUBC’s Georgie Gleeson, Rowena Meredith, Tara Rigney and Kathryn Rowan; the women’s sweep squad includes SUBC’s Eleanor Price and Talia Barnet-Heppies (coxswain); and the women’s lightweight double squad includes SUBC’s Lucy Coleman.
The men’s double scull includes SUBC’s David Bartholot (reserve); the men’s coxless four includes SUBC’s Jack Hargreaves (OAM), Joseph O’Brien and Alexander Purnell (OAM); and the men’s coxed eight includes SUBC’s Jackson Kench and William O’Shannessy. Tara Rigney, Lucy Coleman, Jackson Kench and Will O’Shannessy are on the Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness Elite Athlete Program.
The Australian team was announced following a week of rigorous selection trials that were moved from Sydney to Canberra due to the extreme weather experienced in the Penrith region of Western Sydney. More than 80 athletes were put through their paces over the course of the week.
“Despite the interruptions, the athletes displayed a great attitude and once again demonstrated their adaptability and resilience as plans changed at short notice,” Rowing Australia Performance Director Paul Thompson said.
“We have selected a group of athletes that boast youth and experience, including Olympians, Paralympians, and World Championships medallists. It is wonderful to have both fresh faces and returning athletes in the team.”
Saturday’s team announcement follows an evening of celebration for Australian rowing where athletes and support staff were acknowledged for their tremendous results at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games as part of the Rower of the Year Awards.
Athletes will have no time to rest as they ramp up preparations for the series of World Rowing Cups, which will be an important precursor to selection for Australia’s World Rowing Championships team.
The 2022 World Rowing Championships will be held at Racice in the Czech Republic from 18-25 September.
