Blacks claim seven medals at Aust Uni Champs Rowing!

The Adelaide University Boat Club has acquitted itself admirably at last week's 2011 Australian University Championships, taking medals in 7 categories, and being denied even more by race cancellations due to weather.

Current mens quad scull World Champion James McRae, and 2011 Rowing World Championships silver medallist Peta White, highlighted the 41-strong South Australian contingent, including 3 coaches and 3 athletes from UniSA, who travelled to Penrith, NSW for the regatta.

The first medal came on Thursday by technicality, with the mixed eight crew of Tom Cocks, Darren Holst, Andrew Thompson, Oliver Sainsbury, Sarah Robson, Stacey Paterson, Katherine Rosenblatt, Katya Averin & cox Lucy Hyde taking bronze on the grounds of their strong heat time, when their final was cancelled.

On Friday, finals day proper, the Club earned a medal in almost every race it entered, with five more bronze medals and a silver, despite the ferocious conditions which sunk many competitors' boats.

Peta White showed her form and took a strong bronze in the womens single scull, behind Olympians Sarah Tait nee Outhwaite & Sarah Cook.

Stacey Paterson and Katherine Rosenblatt survived the surf to finish 5th in their final of the womens pair.

The womens lightweight quad scull of Sarah Robson, Caroline Auricht, Anna Collins, Georgina Mills took bronze. They were helped and hindered in equal measure by the conditions; ahead of favourites Melbourne Uni who were swamped & did not finish, but behind UNSW, who had recorded a much slower heat time than AUBC in flatter conditions.

The mens coxed four finished 4th, with a near identical situation. They were ahead of race favourites Sydney University, who crossed the line spectacularly, their boat underwater, yet behind UNSW, who they had bettered in the heat.

AUBC members Patrick Ey, racing for Adelaide University, and Kai Ward, racing for UniSA, were denied the opportunity to race when their final of the mens lightweight single scull was cancelled. Kai in particular was in the hunt for bronze.

Likewise in the mens single scull, James McRae was favourite but this small boat final was cut too due to high winds.

Also cancelled was the womens double scull, affecting heat winners Jessica McRae & Alex Daniel racing for UniSA, as well as Katya Averin & Katie Davy racing for AofA.

Alex Daniel therefore had no final to race in, when her womens lightweight single scull final was cut as well. Anna Collins, for UofA, was also scheduled to race.

In 2010 the AUBC womens eight reclaimed its place on the podium, and they defended that bronze medal with another strong performance this year. The crew was Alice Wilkinson, Abigail Townsend, Joanne Malcolm, Vanessa Hughes, Georgina Mills, Matilda Carrell, Jessica Molsher-Jones, Peta White, and cox Georgina Hanus.

A further bronze was added by the womens coxed four crew of Emma Chamberlayne, Stacey Paterson, Alice Wilkinson, Katherine Rosenblatt and cox Georgina Hanus. Brooke Willshire coached all womens crews.

This year has also seen the resurgence of the AUBC lightweight men. Patrick Ey, Hugo Burgin, Charlie Bruce and Cameron Beasley, coached by Michael Shannon, made good on their form from the heat, with a bronze medal, over 50 seconds ahead of 4th place.

Finally, the mens eight crew of Alexander Evans, Liam Gotley, Lachlan Ward, Sam Volker, Ned Kinnear, Falco Richardt, James McRae, Patrick Maddern, cox Lucy Hyde and coached by Mike Jeffries, took silver, ahead of Sydney University, but no match for winners Melbourne University, who were in a class of their own. After a two year reign, we mourn the passing of the Oxford & Cambridge

Thankyou to Vanessa, for her meticulous planning.

Thanks to coaches Brooke, Shaz & Mike, for their many early mornings coaching.

Thanks to Caitlin & Mike at the AUSA, for the tents, the shirts, the organising and the ongoing support.

Go the Blacks!