Heinke and Martin win Star-Studded Pairs at NSW Championships

By Rowing Australia’s Andrew Butler

Two interstate pairings dominated proceedings in a star-studded women’s pairs race at the NSW rowing championships last weekend, which included no less than seven reigning World Champions in the one race.

The new pairing of Monique Heinke from UTS in Sydney and Emily Martin from the Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club in Victoria overcame excessive heat to power down the 2000 meter course in Penrith in a fast time of 7 minutes 19, over 4 seconds clear of the next crew.

The second placed crew was also a combined Victorian, NSW crew made up of Kristine Larsen from Sydney Rowing Club and Rachel Taylor from Powerhouse Rowing Club in Melbourne and the second place probably brought back memories of the Olympic Silver medal that Taylor won on the same course during the Sydney Olympic Games.

In the women’s four event Moique Heinke of UTS and Emily Martin added to the victory in the pair on the previous day, when they combined with Sally Robbins of Swan River in Perth and Victoria Roberts also of UTS.

Roberts has just returned to Australia and the victory in the four showed that she has lost little of the form that catapulted her to two World Championships titles in the four and the eight at the 2001 World Championships.

The NSW regatta is serving as an important lead up to the Australian National championships which will be held in Nagambie, Victoria and starts in just over 2 weeks.