Favourites make their mark at Australian Championships

Monday 2 March 2009

The first day of the Hydro Tasmania Australian Rowing Championships has progressed smoothly at the picturesque Lake Barrington in Tasmania.

Rowing with the assistance of a small tail wind and under cloudy skies, the majority of Australia’s Olympic rowing contingent progressed safely into the semi-finals of their respective events.

Toowoomba duo Sally Kehoe and Pippa Savage both won their heats of the women’s single scull to qualify for the semi-finals. Savage and Kehoe are the two favourites for the final that will be contested on Friday. Victorian Lisa Szatsznadjer won the other heat ahead of Sarah Cook (ACT).

The men’s single scull heats featured six Olympians, with the winner of each heat qualifying directly for the semi-final.

David Crawshay (VIC), Jeremy Stevenson (WA), Danjels Reedman (NSW) and Italian Niccolo Mornatti were victorious in their respective heats.

Victorian’s James Marburg and Cameron McKenzie-McHarg recorded a three second win in their heat of the men’s pair. Marburg and McKenzie-McHarg were National Champions in 2006, the last time that the event was held at Lake Barrington, and are still on a high after winning a silver medal as part of the men’s four at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

AIS pair, Dominic Grimm (NSW) and Tom Larkins (VIC), won the second heat and following their victory in the New South Wales’ State Championships, will be aiming to add a national title to their impressive season to date.

Bronwen Watson (NSW) set the quickest time in the heats of the Women’s Lightweight Single Scull. Watson, who was part of the Women’s Lightweight Quad Scull crew that won gold at the 2008 World Championships, will face strong opposition from crew mates Alice McNamara (VIC) and Ingrid Fenger (TAS) when the semi-finals are raced later in the week.

Under age racing will occupy all of the afternoon racing, before heats of the women’s and men’s double scull begin on Tuesday.

Stay up to date with live racing, results and reports at www.rowingaustralia.com.au

For more information please call David Polglase on 0408 056 914

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