Sydney University won the 2011 Australian University Snow Sports Championships at Thredbo this week, and in the process collected 16 medals across 27 events.
Not only were Sydney University named the overall University Champions, but were also awarded with the following: Men’s Overall Snowboard Champion – Cam Batton, Women’s Freestyle Ski Overall Champion – Eliza Graham, Men’s Overall Skiing Champions and Women’s Overall Skiing Champions.
Sydney University sealed their champion status with a brilliant final day of competition, winning four medals across the final four events.
Joshua Himbury claimed bronze in the male slopestyle ski event – his second bronze of the Championships. Sydney University athletes also placed fifth and seventh in the same event. In the women’s event Sydney University Elite Athlete Progam (EAP) scholarship holder Eliza Graham won her second medal of the Championships, adding a silver medal to her gold a day earlier. Emma Chapman-Davies (EAP) claimed bronze – her third medal this week.
In the male slopestyle snowboard event Cameron Batten claimed another medal, this time silver, while other Sydney University athletes finished in sixth and seventh. In the women’s event Sydney University athletes finished seventh, eighth and tenth.
Sydney University got off a flying start to the Championships on Monday. Lavinia Chrystal (EAP) won Sydney University’s first gold medal with victory in the Alpine Giant Slalom (skiing). Chrystal also secured a bronze medal in the Snowboard Giant Slalom (skiing). This was a remarkable achievement considering Chrystal hadn’t competed in a snowboard event in over five years. Cameron Batton took home gold in the men’s Snowboard Giant Slalom.
In the skier cross event on Tuesday Alex Podgorski (EAP) was able to wrestle the bronze medal away from fourth spot in a very tight race. Sydney University’s next two riders came in 12th and 13th.
In the women’s event Rebecca Wyatt (EAP) managed to secure a silver medal, with the next two best Sydney University girls coming in at 12th and 15th. Wyatt backed up her silver medal with a fourth place finish in the alpine slalom event. At this point in time the men’s results haven’t been released online, but Uni’s top three riders were well placed at the top of the rankings.
Cam Batten made the final of the boardercross, but was very unlucky not to take away the bronze medal in a tight contest. In the women’s event, Sydney University athletes finished fifth, sixth and tenth.
In the men’s cross country event Sydney University athletes finished in ninth, 11th and 12th. Emma Chapman Davies (EAP) got her hands on the silver medal in the women’s event with Sydney University’s other top three finishers coming in at 9th and 11th.
Sydney University achieved silver in the women’s cross country relay, while the men claimed bronze.
On Wednesday the men were once again led by Alex Podgorski (EAP) who finished fifth in the Alpine Super G. Fellow Sydney University athletes finished in sixth and tenth. The women fared better with Nicole Wilson claiming bronze and two others finishing in fourth and 13th positions.
In the moguls event Sydney University’s dominated the finals in both the men and women. Bronze was awarded to Josh Himbury in the men with other top finishers coming in at sixth and eighth. In women’s event Eliza Graham claimed gold, while Emma Chapman-Davies (EAP) was close behind in second, claiming silver.
Sydney University’s medal tally finished like this – three gold, six silver and seven bronze.
Click here for a link to the Australian University Sports official 2011 Australian University Snow Sports Championships website.