WA Rowers Make Impressive Start at U23 World Champs

WA’s representatives at the 2018 U23 World Rowing Championships in Poland have made a bright start on the opening day of competition.

The women’s pair of Bronwyn Cox and Giorgia Patten were highly impressive after setting the fastest time across all heats to safely progress through to Friday’s semi-finals.

The WA duo defeated the reigning U23 world champion combo from Chile, who led in the early exchange, before the Australians upped their stroke rate and secured a winning lead from the halfway point.

The Australians will now be highly fancied to earn qualification for the weekend A-Final. Cox was a medallist in same the event at last year’s championships, when she rowed with WA teammate Annabelle McIntyre.

West Australian Sam Marsh was drawn in lane five in his heat of the Men’s Single Scull and took on an in-form Ronan Byrne from Ireland. Marsh, who recently raced at World Rowing Cup 3 in Lucerne, put his senior racing experience to good use, ensuring he finished in third place and securing a spot in Friday’s quarter-finals.

Australia’s Men’s Coxed Four opened proceedings for Australia on Lake Malta in Poznan. The crew of Fraser Pensini, Alexander Clarke, Kane Grant, Zac von Appen and coxswain Sarah Ben-David were drawn in Lane 1 taking on Ukraine, Denmark, USA and Great Britain.

Needing a top two finish to make the A-Final, the crew sat back in fourth for the first half of the race but muscled into third as they crossed the halfway mark. With the USA taking an early lead, it was a battle between the Australians and Great Britain for second place, with Ben-David calling on her crew to up their rate in the final 500 metres.

With a spirited sprint to the line against the British, the Australians surged forward but the British upped their rate to 42 and nipped ahead of the Australians at the line forcing them into tomorrow’s repechage.

Photo and content: Rowing Australia