Victoria has added yet another Queen’s Cup women’s eight title to their collection in the penultimate race of the 2009 Interstate Regatta at Lake Barrington, Tasmania.
In the 11 years the event has now been contested, Victoria has won eight titles and their display left the remainder of the field fighting for the minor medals.
The Victorian crew, stroked by Olympian Sarah Heard came out of the start with good rhythm in the light tail wind conditions and had a three second lead after the first 500 metres of the race. They maintained this advantage down the course to eventually cross the line in a time of 6:17.24.
In the race for second Queensland held off the challenge from Western Australia.
Heard said that the crew had pulled together really well and was determined to keep Victoria’s strong record in the event intact.
“We’ve had a fair changeover from the girls that won the event last year but we combined really well today,” Heard said. “We realised we were favourites heading into today but we are all thrilled with the win.”
Queensland retained the Women’s Youth Eight in a time of 6:24.25. They won the Bicentenary Cup, while Western Australia was second and South Australia finished in the bronze medal position.
The Interstate Regatta features eight races that combine to decide the champion state and winner of the Rowing Australia Cup.
Full Victorian Queen’s Cup crew: Sarah Heard, Pauline Frasca, Phoebe Stanley, Alison Crowe, Lisa Szatsznajder, Joanna Gray, Emy Huntsman, Sophie Robson.
