Rowing
2024 Australian Rowing Championships
It was an incredible week at the 2024 Australian Rowing Championships for the Pymble Rowing Team.
On Saturday 23 March, our Senior 1st VIII became National Champions in the Schoolgirl Eight Sprint event, having produced a lightning fast 500 metre sprint.
On Sunday 24 March, our Senior 1st VIII came second in their heat, avoiding the repechage and progressing straight through to the A-Final where a race for the ages unfolded. Our Pymble rowers started fierce, fast and determined, leading the race after several hundred metres. Coming into the final 500 metres and holding 2nd place, the team demonstrated incredible courage and grit to hold off a ferocious trio of crews aiming to take the silver medal. Producing their finest performance of the season, the crew held off the fastest Schoolgirl Eights from around Australia to secure the Silver medal, becoming the 2nd fastest Schoolgirl Eight.
Congratulations on Gold and Silver National Medallists: Carolina Yemma (Year 12), Holly Craig (Year 12), Erin Porter (Year 11), Mika Naito (Year 11), Megan Wood (Year 11), Scarlet Olesen (Year 11), Millie Cullinane (Year 10), Alesandra Braysich (Year 12), Mia Booth (Year 12) and coach Mr Karl Schmidt.
The Senior 2nd VIII competed in the Schoolgirl Eight Sprint Event, where the crew brilliantly progressed into the A-Final with a win in the heat, achieving a 5th place finish in the A-Final against 1st VIII crews from around Australia.
Congratulations to Mathilde Goddard (Year 11), Annabel Shanahan (Year 11), Skye Pockley (Year 12), Isabella Stalley (Year 11), Catherine Walker (Year 12), Celeste McDermott (Year 11), Lauren Gibson (Year 11), Isabel Matosantos (Year 12), Alice Anand (Year 11) and coach Mr Ben Booker.
In the U17 Schoolgirl Eight Category, Pymble entered two crews with an eye to the future, where our Year 9 rowers enjoyed learning sweep technique, Year 10 girls demonstrated great leadership in the boats and all rowers acquiring valuable experience racing at a National level. In the heats, both crews produced solid performances, undertaking overtakes in the third 500 metres of the race, showing Pymble grit and maturity beyond their years. Both crews raced again after their heat before finally progressing to the B and C Finals.
Well done to Mia Solomons (Year 10), Leander McLaughlin (Year 9), Kelly Clifton (Year 9), Annie Pennington (Year 9), Caitlyn Bilney (Year 10), Zara Kinniburgh (Year 9), Allegra Taubenschlag (Year 9), Arabella Murphy (Year 10), Harriet Murphy (Year 9), Mie Naito (Year 9), Ellie Pointon (Year 9), Amber Eisenhauer (Year 9), Olivia Norton (Year 9), Genievieve Bazina (Year 9), Georgina Curtis (Year 9), Sara Khan (Year 10), Lucy Simpson (Year 9), Mia Sherry (Year 9) and coaches Mr Will Foxton, Miss Alex McMillan and Mr Finn Tainsh.
Emily Bartrop (Year 9) took on the opportunity to cox an U17 Men’s Coxed Quad, leading the crew to a 2nd place in the heat and a 6th place in the final. Congratulations Emily!
Kelly Clifton (Year 9) also raced earlier in the week in an U17 Double Scull in a Pymble Ladies’/Sydney Rowing Club composite crew, performing well as an underage crew, placing 3rd in the heat and repechage.
Congratulations to all Pymble rowers for demonstrating so much courage, skill and passion in this highly successful National Championships!
Lewis Gray
Sports Co-ordinator – Rowing