Australians at 2003 Henley Royal Regatta

Curtin University (WA) -  Hugh C. Baird (b), P. H. Jurjevich, M. P. Logue, Nick Porzig, Robert G. Scott, I. F. Clarke, G. C. Kerr, B. P. Hopkins (s), B. Webster (c), 

 The West Australians were defeated by Leander Club in the first round by 1 1/4 lengths.

Australian Institute of Sport, with New South Wales Institute of Sport - Julia A. Wilson (b), Monique Y. Heinke, Sally A. Robbins, Kyeema C. Doyle, Jodi L. Winter, Rebecca L. Sattin, Victoria L. Roberts, Kristina A. Larsen (s), Katie Foulkes (c) 

 The Australians received a bye in the first round. In the second, they defeated the German crew from Frankfurt Germania easily and in the process, created a new record to the Barrier of 2min. 00sec. In the semi-final, the Australians dispatched Brown University by 4 lengths. In so doing, they set new record times of 1 min. 59 secs to the Barrier, 3 min. 21 sec. to Fawley and equalled the finish record time of 6 min. 59 sec. The final against the Canadian National eight produced some great racing but no win for the Australians. The Canadians led early and were never overtaken finishing 1 1/4 lengths in front.

Curtin Boat Club (WA) - P. H. Jurjevich (b), M. P. Logue, G. C. Kerr, I. F. Clarke (s, steers)

 The West Australians did not survive the first round and were defeated by Reading Rowing Club by a length. The Henley Regatta Records 2000-04 described the race as follows. The best race of the day was between Reading Rowing Club and, newcomers to the Regatta, Curtin Boat Club, Australia. Reading tangled with the buoys up the Island giving Curtin an early lead which they extended to two thirds of a length at the first signal and to three quarters of a length at the Barrier. Reading kept their composure and edged back reducing the lead to a quarter of a length at Fawley and to two feet at the three quarter mile signal. Shortly after this Reading took the lead and then Curtin, getting very close to the booms, lost half a length in a few strokes. This allowed Reading to take a significant lead that they held to the finish. 

St. Joseph's College with Brisbane Grammar School (QLD) - K. C. Tanner (b), D. J. L. Morton, R. M. M. Steinkamp, W. M. Anderson (s)

This Queensland crew had a promising start defeating Burway Rowing Club in the first round by 3 1/2 lengths. The eventual winners from Marlow and Th King's School easily defeated them in the second round.

Anglican Church Grammar School and St Joseph’s College (QLD) -  T. D. McDonnell (b), S. B. Renton, J. R. Price, B. J. Groeneveld (s) 

This Brisbane crew were given a bye in the first round and then easily defeated The King's School Worchester in the second round. Then they defeated Leander Club by 2 1/2 lengths in the third round before going down to the eventual winners in the semi-final by 3 1/2 lengths. The Henley Regatta Records 2000-04 reports as follows. In the second semi-final a similar race ensued. Marlow Rowing Club and The King's School, Worcester led the Australian composite from Brisbane, Anglican Church Grammar School and St. Joseph's College, by two feet at the quarter mile and the crews were level at the Barrier. It was not until the mile that Marlow and King's Worcester managed to get clear water, going on to win by three and a half lengths. 

Sydney Rowing Club (NSW) - D. A. Patterson, A. R. Nikolaidis, E. R. Morgan,  A. L. Barnett (s)

 Sydney also received a bye in the first round before having comfortable second and third round races. In the semi-final, the Henley Regatta Records 2000-04 reported the race as follows. In the first semi-final Malvern Preparatory School, the American Schoolboy Champions, had an excellent race with Sydney Rowing Club, Australia. They never dropped below a sculling rate of 37 strokes per minute but, despite this, could not get clear from a fine Sydney crew until the last signal from where they then went on to win by two lengths.

Sydney Rowing Club

Australian Institute of Sport - Jane Robinson (b), Dana Faletic, Kerry L. Hore, Amber J. Bradley (s), 

 The Australians had comfortable races in the first two rounds before meeting the Ukrainian quad in the final. The Henley REgatta Records 2000-04 reported as follows. The final was an excellent race between two top class crews. Ts.S.K.A Ukraine had the edge off the start and led by three quarters of a length from the Barrier to the last signal extending their lead to a length at the finish. The Australian Institute of Sport lost some distance through erratic steering for which they were repeatedly warned - nevertheless they held on gamely. 

Mosman Rowing Club (NSW) - Martin S. Inglis & Tristan Pascall

 The Mosman combination sculled well in the first and second rounds to win both comfortably. The semi-final was a very different story. The Henley Regatta Records 2000-04 reported as follows. The second semi-final was one of the most exciting at this year's Regatta. Inglis and Pascall, Mosman Rowing Club, Australia, sculled 12, 23 and 43 strokes in the first quarter, half and full minutes to 11, 22 and 40 by MacAlister and Gale, The Tideway Scullers' School, and led by three feet at the quarter mile signal. They had increased this lead to half a length at the Barrier and to three quarters of a length at Fawley and held this to the three quarter mile signal. Here a magnificent and prolonged challenge by MacAlister and Gale allowed them to draw level by the mile and to lead by a third of a length at the mile and an eighth signal. A wonderful race to the finish saw the Australians just getting their bows in front in the last few stokes to win by two feet. And later the final was described this way. The final was disappointing. Meuller and Weis led off the start and sculling strongly soon established a good lead. Inglis and Pascall were unable to make any impression on them as they increased their lead to three lengths at the finish. 

Curtin University (WA) - Benjamin P. Hopkins 

Hopkins had a good regatta until the last race, which was lost to A W Campbell of Tideway Scullers' School by 1 1/2 lengths. The Henley Regatta Records 2000-04 reported on the semi-final and final as follows. 

In the second semi-final Hopkins, Curtin University, Australia, met van Mensch, Alegeme Leiden Studenten Roeivereniging Asopos, Holland and a close race ensued. Hopkins established an early lead and led by a length at the Barrier. He managed to respond to the many challenges mounted by van Mensch to win a tight race by a length. 

In the final, in an excellent race, Campbell led by a foot at the first signal and by a third of a length at the Barrier. He slowly increased this to a length at Fawley and to a length and a half at the mile. Here Hopkins spurted hard and closed fast to two thirds of a length at the mile and an eighth but Campbell responded well, drawing away to win by a length and a half. 

Australian Institute of Sport - Catriona J Oliver

The description of the semi-finals and final from the Henley Regatta Records 2000-04 was as follows. Australia first semi-final was between Oliver, Australian Institute of Sport, Australia and Norwood, Kennebecasis Rowing Club, Canada. Oliver at a lower rate of sculling from start to finish, led by a length at the Barrier and, although Norwood pressed hard at the three Quarter mile she could make no impression. Oliver sculled well to win by a length. The second semi-final was between Martin, Australian Institute of Sport, Australia, and Ashcroft. Martin, sculling strongly drew steadily ahead to lead by two lengths at the Barrier. Ashcroft never gave up but she was unable to match the power of Martin who won by two lengths. 

The final was between the two scullers from The Australian Institute of Sport. It was uneventful. Martin did not appear to challenge Oliver at any stage of the race except towards the finish when she reduced Oliver's lead from just over two lengths to a length and a half. 

Australian Institute of Sport - Donna R Martin