Interstate and Day 7 Wrap from ARC23

It all comes down to this! 613 races over 6 days brought us to the finale of the 2023 Australian Rowing Championships, the Interstate Regatta. Where all states were vying to take home the Rowing Australia Cup with each race and placing vital to who takes home the coveted trophy. Harrison Nichols from Hunter Valley Grammar School set the tone early for NSW with a convincing display to take victory in the Interstate Men's PR3 Single Scull. Harrison also took Gold in the PR3 Mens Single, PR3 Mixed Coxed Four and Mixed Double with the interstate title capping off a remarkable week for him. Julia Story took home bronze in the Interstate Women's PR3 Single Scull unable to claw back a strong start from both the ACT and Victoria.

In what was one of the hottest fields all regatta in the Interstate Men's Single Scull, Campbell Watts was unable to hold onto the leading pack through the middle 1000m finishing in 5th. It was a similar story for NSW in the Interstate Lightweight Men's Coxless Four with Victoria and Queensland out in front neck and neck the whole way down the course with Victoria making a push with 750m to go and had enough to hold on. Besides those two races NSW dominated the rest of the Interstate Regatta with Tara Rigney coming away with her 2nd Nell Slatter Trophy win repeating her 2021 success. In the Queens Cup, Victoria were too strong taking Gold with NSW pushing through Queensland in the 2nd 500 and increasing that margin throughout the last 1000m to take Silver.

The Interstate Women's Youth Eight was a nailbiter for at least the first 1000m, with the hot favorites Victoria holding a less than a second margin over NSW going past the 1000m mark. From there it was all NSW with the girls powering away in the 3rd 500m and maintaining that lead through to the finish line, in what was a spectacular and well deserved celebration. Which was able to be shared with the Men's Interstate Youth Eight who were cheering the girls home in the last 250m after leading from start to finish with Victoria having no answers after a fast start from NSW.

With a many strong inclusions in the Victoria's Kings Cup, pundits were predicting Victoria to be too strong for NSW and reclaim the Kings Cup off NSW. With several Olympians and Gold Medalists in the NSW Kings Cup, the boys had other ideas winning and winning in style making it 7 wins for Spencer Turrin who now equals James Chapman, Matt Ryan, Nick Purnell and Fergus Pragnell for most Kings Cup victories for NSW.  

It was a great afternoon for NSW but earlier in the day there were plenty of Schoolboy, Schoolgirl and club events with NSW clubs and Schools with a late dash for medals. It was an impressive performance by St Ignatius Riverview with a dominant victory in the Schoolboy Eight capping off a remarkable season for the crew and program led by Dan Noonan. St Catherines finishing the regatta with 3 medals coming away with Silver in the Schoolgirl Eight unable to hold out a strong Melbourne Girls Grammar crew. In the smaller boats St Augustine’s holding off Ballarat Clarendon for Gold. With Ballarat not going away never letting St Augustine’s extend their lead to greater than a boat length in the Schoolboy's Coxed Four. Queenwood were victorious in the Schoolgirl's Coxed Quadruple Scull getting out to clear water by halfway and pushing home to take the win from Canberra Girls Grammar School in second place.  

UTS Haberfield and Sydney University were able to grab a couple of medals in the Club events to give NSW clubs the podium on the overall Medal Table. Sydney University finished first with 13.75 Gold, 4.75 Silver and 6.5 Bronze. Sydney in 2^nd with 9.75 Gold, 5.75 Silver and 8 Bronze. UTS Haberfield came in 3^rd with 7 Gold & Silver and 10.375 Bronze.

Interesting to note with NSW winning the Rowing Australia Cup with 6 Gold, we finished the regatta 5^th on the overall Medal Table for the entire regatta! Bleed Blue!

Congratulations to all those who made the trip over to Perth and raced in what was a test of skill, grit and determination.