Australians at 2000 Henley Royal Regatta

Australian Institute of Sport - Matthew Long (b), Alistair B. H Gordon, Nick W. Porzig, Robert Jahrling, Mike S. McKay, Stuart T. Welch, Daniel J. Burke, Jaime F. Fernandez (s), Brett R. Hayman (c)

This was a first and final against the British national eight rowing under Leander Club and Queens Tower Boat Club name. Both crews were national crews and were leading into the Olympic Games. GB had won Silver at the World Championships the previous year (1999) and in the World Cup Series Round 2 in Vienna, a week before 2000 HRR, had beaten Australia to second place by 2 seconds. Two weeks later, the British won by one third of a second over the Australians, to then win the Olympics by eight tenths of a second in Sydney.

University of Technology, Sydney, Haberfield Rowing Club - James A. Stewart, Benjamin P. Dodwell, Geoff P. Stewart, Boden J. Hanson (s, steering)

In the first round, the Australians didn't have it all their own way against an Irish crew from Tara Rowing Club. The Australian led all the way but it was close. The Australian and British fours met in the final of this event. The Henley Regatta Records 2000-04 reported as follows.

The final between the Gold and the Silver medal winners at last year's World Championships lived up to all expectations. Leander started at 12, 22 and 44 to the Australian's 12, 22 and 42 in the first quarter, half and full minutes and led by three feet at the quarter mile. Approaching the Barrier both crews settled - Leander to 36, the Australians to 35 and Leander led by a canvas. Striking 36 they led at Fawley by half a length and from here to the finish the Australians were striking 40. They closed to two feet at the mile but Leander were leading by half a length at the last signal and, with Pinsent raising the rate of striking to 43, they stormed home to win by two thirds of a length. 

The crowd were delighted and the Leander crew were permitted to row back to the crossing and then row up the Course to allow Members and their Guests to wish all the rowers good fortune at the Olympic Games in Sydney. It was also to be Steven Redgrave's final appearance as a competitor at the Regatta. The Leander crew went on to win the Gold medal at Sydney giving Steven Redgrave his fifth Olympic Gold - a feat unequalled in an endurance sport. 

Australian Institute of Sport - Peter A. Hardcastle (b), Jason S. Day, Stuart R. Reside, Duncan S. Free (s)

Again the final was contested by two national crews, the Dutch and the Australians with the Dutch prevailing by 3 3/4 lengths. The Australians had a scare in the second round when a quad from Tideway Scullers pressed the Australians to 1/2 length. Sadly the final did not live up to expectations. The crews were level to the end of the island and Hereus and Laga led the AIS by two feet at the Barrier, and this blew out to two lengths at Fawley. The rest of the race was then never in doubt with the Dutch sculling squad winning by 4 lengths.

The Australians on the way to the start

Sydney Rowing Club (NSW) - S. G. Anderson (b), L. R. H. Ridhalgh, R. J. J. Andrews, M. A. Chave (s),  S. P. Cooper

In round one, the Sydney crew easily disposed of the Mercantile crew. In the second round, they defeated Auriol Kensington Rowing Club A crew by 2 3/4 lengths. However they met the eventual winner Cambridge University in the quarter finals and went down by one length.

 The Henley Regatta Record 2000-04 reported on this third round race as follows. Cambridge University now began their victories over the selected crews. Against Sydney Rowing Club they took an early lead and had a length at the Barrier but from Fawley to the finish Sydney mounted a series of attacks and successfully reduced the lead to one third of a length at the last signal. They closed further along the enclosures and almost got level but the effort had cost them dearly and they faded as they approached the finish, Cambridge winning by a length. 

Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC) - A. J. Fast (b), T. G. Handley, J. A. S. Bolton, P. Henry C. Edgar (s), J A McIntyre (c)

As mentioned above, beaten in the first round by Sydney.

Sydney Rowing Club Britannia Crew at Henley