SUBC Rowers among Medallists at 2018 World Championships

The 2018 World Rowing Championships wrapped up last Sunday in Plovdiv Bulgaria with some great performances from Australian crew and with five Boat Club members in crews that won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. In addition, two former SUBC coaches coached silver medal winning crews.

The Australian Women’s Eight had a great regatta winning our first World Championship medal in this boat since 2006 – bronze only 8/100’s of a second behind Britain in second. Congratulations to Georgie Gotch who rowed in this crew.

The Aus Men’s Four successfully defended their world title won in Florida last year – this year holding out the fast finishing Italians to claim Gold.  Jack Hargreaves rowed in the three seat of this boat – well done Jack and your crew – another World Champs gold medal.

The Men’s Quad were a bit of a surprise coming from 6th at the 1000 metre mark to push through to second in an incredibly tight race between three crews for second place and silver. Two of the younger Bat Club members, Alex Purnell and Campbell Watts were 3 and 2 in this boat and the crew was coached by former SUBC Head Coach, Mark Prater. Well done to Mark also.

Then in the men’s eight it was our almost veteran Nick Purnell who rowed In the five seat as our eight just pipped the British out of the silver medal position by 3/100’s of a second. Nick was in the last Aussie men’s eight to win a medal at Worlds – he was in the crew that won a bronze medal at the 2010 World Championships at Lake Karapiro in New Zealand.  Congratulations Nick. The eight was coached by former Boat Club coach, Andrew Randell.

In the women’s quad Gen Horton and Rowena Meredith  missed the main final but won the B Final. The 2018 Aus U23 pair of Sydney Uni oarsmen Jack O’Brien and Andrew Judge were given a late opportunity to join the senior team and compete at the 2018 Senior Worlds – a unexpected and terrific honour. They had a hot quarter final – the quickest ones and missed the A/B finals by one spot. They went on to win the C Final finishing 13th of the 23 crews in this event.

Congratulations to our rowers and to the whole 2018 Senior Australian Rowing Team of a very successful 2018 World Championships.