Sydney University Boat Club members made up the bulk of the NSW eight that won a fifth straight King’s Cup to conclude the 2012 Australian Rowing Championships held at Champion Lakes Regatta Centre, Perth on Sunday.
The one-length win, which equalled the longest winning streak in the King’s Cup, achieved by NSW between 1974 and 1978, was 33rd victory by the sky blues in the famous men’s eight interstate race.
Stroked by Dan Noonan, the crew included Fergus Pragnell, Matt Ryan, Nicholas Purnell, James Chapman, Francis Hegerty, Sam Loch, Nicholas Hudson and coxswain Toby Lister.
Victoria led through the 500m mark before NSW reeled them in to 0.3 of a second at 1000m mark. But the Victorians stretched the lead to over a second entering the sprint to the end and NSW powered to the line to finish in 5:49.23, a length clear of the Vics, with South Australia third.
Noonan said the harmony within the crew had played a major factor in New South Wales’ success. “That would be our most memorable from the past five years as there was a load of pressure going into the race,” Noonan said. “We knew the Vics would be the best they had been for a few years but the race went to plan.
“We didn’t get out as quick as we have in previous years but we stuck to our guns and had a couple of good pushes through the middle. That might be the last race for a few of us for NSW we didn’t want to let that opportunity go.”
The King’s Cup concluded the 2012 Australian Rowing Championships with attention now turning to the 2012 National Selection Trials at the Sydney International Regatta Centre from March 23–April 1.
Among the other Sydney University rowers to come home with gold medals were Jon Rundle, Sasha Belonogoff, Ryan Edwards, Nick Wheatley, Hamish Playfair, Ryan Barraclough, Tom Sacre, Kit Cunningham-Reid and Will Raven (coxswain) in the men’s Under 23 eight; Sasha Belonogoff in the men’s Under 23 single; Sasha Belonogoff and Ryan Edwards in the men’s Under 23 double; Sasha Belonogoff, Ryan Edwards and Tom McClintock in the men’s Under 23 quad; and Holly Lawrence, India Evans and Nicola Metcalfe in the women’s Under 19 eight.
Silver medals were won by Holly Lawrence in the women’s Under 23 lightweight single; Holly Lawrence, Marianna Doumanis in the women’s Under 23 lightweight quad; India Evans and Nicola Metcalfe in the women’s Under 19 pair; and India Evans and Nicola Metcalf in the women’s Under 19 four, while India Evans and Nicola Metcalfe won bronze in the women’s Under 19 pair.
