Sydney University Boat Club’s (SUBC) Fergus Pragnell set another club record over the weekend at the 2013 NSW Rowing Championships as he stroked Sydney University’s men’s eight to their 10th win in a row.
Pragnell, a former SUSF Elite Athlete Program (EAP) scholarship holder, is the only athlete to row in all 10 winning crews.
Sydney University’s crew of Pragnell, Matt Ryan, Nick Purnell, Nick Hudson, Hamish Playfair, Sasha Belonogoff, Cam Girdlestone, Peter Koster and Toby Lister (cox) defeated Sydney Rowing Club, Toowong Rowing Club and a second Sydney University crew that finished fourth.
Overall, Sydney University – represented by SUBC and Sydney Uni Women’s Rowing Club (SUWRC) – finished the three day Championships with nine gold medals (six men’s and three women’s), seven silver (4 men’s and three women’s) and seven bronze (four men’s and three women’s).
The tally of 23 medals was more than good enough for Sydney University to claim the Honours Trophy, which is awarded to the club who accrues the highest points tally at NSW State Championships.
“The results were pleasing from an overall perspective, but we have more work to do to ensure the best outcome at the Australian Open Rowing Championships,” explained SUBC Director of Rowing, Mark Prater.
Sydney University won gold medals in the men’s single scull (ME1x), men’s double scull (ME2x), men’s quad scull (ME4+), under 23 men’s pair (M2-), men’s eight (ME8+), men’s coxless quad scull (ME4x), women’s single scull (WE1x), under 23 lightweight women’s single sculls (LW1x) and women’s double scull (WE2x).
Sydney University’s silver medal crews included the men’s single scull (ME1x), under 21 men’s single sculls (MX1), men’s double scull (ME2x), men’s coxless quad scull (ME4x), women’s elite lightweight quad scull (WEL4x), under 21 women’s pair (W2-) and the women’s coxless quad scull (WE4x).
Bronze medal winning crews representing Sydney University included the men’s single scull (ME1x), men’s coxless pair (ME2-), men’s double scull (ME2x), men’s coxless quad (ME4-), under 23 women’s single scull (W1x), under 21 women’s eight (W8+) and the under 21 women’s quadruple sculls (W4x).
“This was a team effort with the whole Sydney University squad contributing to the outcome,” said SUWRC Head Coach, Debbie Fox.
“Our January camp in Taree has been a major component in achieving both better performances and a positive team outlook. We are all looking forward to taking the next step to the Australian Open Rowing Championships.”
There is plenty of racing coming up for Sydney University rowers over the next few weeks.
The Australian Open Rowing Championships which will be held at Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith, from 23-30 March.
It is expected that several Sydney University rowers will be selected in the Australian Team for the first leg of the Rowing World Cup, which will be held in Sydney in March.
Final selections for the Australian Team will then be held in April to pick the crews to race at the World Championships later in the year.
