2018 World Under 23 Championships– Poznan, Poland
These Championships were held on the well known Poznan course and the conditions were fast. So good were the crews and fast the conditions, that world best times were produced.
Sadly it was not a great regatta for Australia with only one medal, leaving us equal 17th on the medal tally. It has not been since 2011 that we have had such a poor performance.
Rowing Australia Deputy Performance Director, Jaime Fernandez, said, “Congratulations must firstly go to Sean, and his coach Matthias Ungemach, on his bronze medal. An excellent outcome in a tough field. Whilst it was pleasing to have a high number of crews in A-Finals, a goal of the Pathway program and our Underage Teams, there are of course a number of valuable lessons that come from competing at an International level. It is important that we learn from these and we look forward to working with the athletes and coaches in future to convert these finals appearances into podium performances.”
Sean Murphy celebrates his bronze medal
Photo from FISA website
The full medla tally can found on this link.
Daily result summaries
Men's Results
Men's Scull - follow the link for results
Sam Marsh raced a superb final B race being in fourth place through the first 1000m and then pulling out a great third 500m to get second place.
Men's Double Scull - follow the link for results
Men's Quad Scull - follow the link for results
Men's Pair - follow the link for results
The pair was good out of the start being in second place at the 500m. However a very even and controlled middle 1000m allowed them to lead for the rest of their final B finishing comfortably in front. They missed out on the final in the last 500m of their demi-final by a fast finishing Greek pair.
Men's Four - follow the link for results
Men's Coxed Four - follow the link for results
Four in the heats
From FISA website
Sadly the four was outclassed in the final being a couple of seconds slower than the field in most parts of the race. This crew was selected in June and so a last minute combination.
Men's Eight - follow the link for results
Men's Lightweight Scull - follow the link for results
Sean Murphy
Photo from FISA website
The RA website reported:
Murphy came out fast in his A-Final, pursuing the race leader, France’s Hugo Beurey, but the field was tight with Brazil’s Uncas Batista, the reigning U23 World Champion, also in the mix. At the halfway mark, Batista, with Murphy still sitting in third, overtook Beurey. With 250 metres to go, the Brazilian increased his lead to take the win, while Beurey held off a challenge from the Australian in the final few metres, to take silver and Murphy bronze.
The Mosman Rowing Club member said post-race: “There were difficult conditions out there. It’s whoever can row cleaner that will do well today (Sunday).
“For me, I followed my plan up until the last 250m as I had a gap on the next guy and felt quite confident. I had a look around at France and he did a good job to hold me off as we headed for the finish line.”
Seems to be having too much fun in the heats!
From FISA website
Men's Lightweight Double Scull - follow the link for results
Men's Lightweight Quad Scull - follow the link for results
Men's Lightweight Pair - follow the link for results
Australian team
Men’s Single Scull - Eighth
Sam Marsh, WA
Cch: Rhett Ayliffe, WA
Men’s Coxless Pair - Seventh
Bow: Andrew Judge, NSW
Str: Jack O’Brien, NSW
Cch: Don McLachlan, NSW
Men’s Coxed Four - Sixth
Bow: Fraser Pensini, WA
2: Alexander Clarke, VIC
3: Kane Grant, SA
Str: Zac von Appen, NSW
Cox: Sarah Ben-David, VIC
Cch: Nick Garratt, ACT
Lightweight Men’s Single Scull - Bronze
Sean Murphy, NSW
Cch: Matthias Ungemach, NSW
Women’s Double Scull - Fifth
Bow: Harriet Hudson, NSW
Str: Ria Thompson, VIC
Cch: Donovan Cech, NSW
Women’s Pair - Fifth
Bow: Giorgia Patten, WA
Str: Bronwyn Cox, WA
Cch: Rhett Ayliffe, WA
Women’s Coxed Eight - Sixth
Bow: Eloise Parker, QLD
2: Ellen Pozzi, QLD
3: Maddison Brown, VIC
4: Kate Rowan, QLD
5: Lucy Pearce, VIC
6: Dyone Bettega, NSW
7: Elise Franetic, VIC
Str: Rafaela Stalph, NSW
Cox: Rebecca Harrisson, NSW
Cch: Nick Garratt, ACT
Women’s Lightweight Single Scull - Fourth
Wallis Russell, QLD
Cch: Alfie Young, NSW
Lightweight Women’s Double Scull - Fifth
Bow:Georgina Masters, NSW
Str: Verayna Zilm, SA
Cch: Rhett Ayliffe, WA
Women's Results
Women's Scull - follow the link for results
Women's Double Scull - follow the link for results
This was a solid performance by this double in the final. Sadly they were a couple of seconds off the pace in the first 500m and never were able to recover that margin.
Women's Quad Scull - follow the link for results
Women's Pair - follow the link for results
Women's pair on Friday
Photo from FISA website
Our pair started well being in sceond place at the 500m mark. Alas they were unable to maintain the pace and were over hauled in the middle 1000m.
Women's Four - follow the link for results
Women's Coxed Four - follow the link for results
Women's Eight - follow the link for results
Women's eight off the start
Photo from FISA website
Sadly the eight was outclassed throughout the final. The crew contained several members studying at American Universities.
Women's Lightweight Scull - follow the link for results
Wallis on heats day making her point
From FISA website
The unluckiest of finishes for Wallis, missing out on the podium by less than 100th second. The recorded times are the same.
Photo finish for the bronze medal
Photo from FISA website
The RA Website reported:
Wallis Russell’s final saw the Sydney University Boat Club rower [currently in Queensland] push all the way to the line in a bid to claim her first international medal. The Queenslander was quick out the start alongside Great Britain’s Imogen Grant, with duo neck and neck at the halfway mark, however Germany and Switzerland were right behind and still on the pace.
Grant pulled into the lead in the third 500, with Russell overtaken by Germany’s Vera Spanke as the crews began to sprint for the line. In the final 250 metres, Italy’s Clara Guerra came tearing down the outside to cross the line equal third with Russell, with the final result decided by a hundredth of a second, and seeing Russell finish in fourth place.
Women's Lightweight Double Scull - follow the link for results
In the A-Final, Australia’s U23 partnership of Verayna Zilm and Georgie Masters were placed fifth in an incredibly fast final that saw Italy crowned World Champions and new Under 23 World’s Best Time holders in the boat class. T
Women's Lightweight Quad Scull - follow the link for results
Women's Lightweight Pair - follow the link for results