Sydney University Women’s Rowing Club (SUWRC) representatives Holly Lawrence, India Evans and Candice Williams have finished the first round of the Under 21 Trans-Tasman series against New Zealand with four victories in Australian boats in Penrith.
All three girls are SUSF Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holders.
The victories began when Holly Lawrence teamed up with Emily Carey, Leah Saunders and Sophie Jerapetritis in the women’s quad. The girls raced well from the start and they looked very steady throughout the race and proved that they are already looking very cohesive as a crew. Lawrence and Saunders were in this boat for the Youth Olympics gold medal winning crew.
Next, India Evans teamed up with Candice Williams and two other girls to take out the women’s four race. The Australian’s moved away from New Zealand in the first 500 metres and they steadily increased their margin to win comfortably.
Holly Lawrence and Sophie Jerapetritis won the women’s lightweight double scull after a clean start and some steady paddling throughout the race. Although these women haven’t teamed up before in this event, they have had several sessions in the women’s lightweight four in the lead up to this regatta. Lawrence and Jerapetritis were happy to sit slightly behind New Zealand in the first 1000 metres, before a marked push and speed increase in the third 500m saw them gain clear water by the finish.
Evans, Williams and Lawrence then all teamed up together as part of the women’s eight. Despite a clean start, the New Zealand eight moved steadily away and Australia found themselves down by two or three lengths at the 1000 metre mark. An increase in pressure saw the Australian crew move straight past New Zealand without faltering to claim the victory.
SUWRC coach Chris Holliday is also a coach of the Australian team.
Evans, Williams, Lawrence and Australia’s other six members will now turn their attention to round two of the U21 Trans-Tasman series at Lake Karapiro in New Zealand in early September.
