In the final wrap-up from the 2018 Sydney International Rowing Regatta, the Balmain Para-Rowing Program has had a very successful week, with James Talbot and Ruby Sutherland both bringing home medals for the program.
James Talbot did extremely well to bring home a gold in a composite PR3 4+ together with Kate Murdoch (Nepean), Nikki Ayers (ANU), Ben Gibson (Sydney), and Renae Domaschenz (cox) (ANU), as well as a silver in the PR3 2x with Nikki Ayers, and two Bronze medals, in the PR3 1x and in the Interstate PR3 1x respectively.
Ruby received a wonderful opportunity to row with a strong University of Tasmania crew in the PR3 4+, and achieved a Bronze medal, closely behind a composite Victorian and South Australian crew. The program is extremely thankful to the University of Tasmania Rowing Club for giving Ruby and the program this opportunity.
Also competing was Matilda-Slater Phillips in the PR3 4+in a composite crew with Ian Cooper and Sue Donahue from ANU. Unfortunately Kevin Wall was unable to compete due to injury, but this provided a great opportunity for the crew to row with Daniel Yau of Hong Kong.
It was an eventful weekend for the rowers, with James Talbot cruising through the heats of the PR3 Men’s Para Single Scull Sprint event (a new event for this year), and ready to race in the final, only for the weather to rapidly deteriorate, leading to the cancellation of racing for the rest of the afternoon, and the cancellation of the finals for that event. We will have to wait until next year to see James’ speed over the 500m!
In the final medal tally, BRC came 48th out of 96 competing clubs – not a bad effort! You can view the full results, the medal tally, and more at the following link: https://ra.rowingmanager.com/?regatta=3750.
Congratulations to all clubs and crews for a fantastic regatta with some very quick results – see you all next year!
