Sydney and Melbourne clash in Australian Boat Race

Raced between eights from Sydney University and Melbourne University, this year Sydney played host with the rowing course on Sydney harbour.

Racing over 4.4km, the women’s eight started first at 08:20 on Sunday morning. This early time was for the potential of better water and also to avoid too many pleasure boats descended on the harbour, which race convenor Chris Noel says usually happens around 11:00. The water turned out to be flat with little wind.

The two women’s eights were together at the start of the race before Melbourne pulled away with about 800m rowed and proceeded to move further in front for the rest of the race. This is the third win for the Melbourne women who took away first prize in 2010 and 2011 as well. Melbourne weighed in at 14kg lighter than Sydney but with stroke of the Australian Olympic eight on board, Phoebe Stanley, the crew showed that weight wasn’t necessarily an advantage.

The Melbourne University women’s crew were awarded the Bella Guerin Trophy which commemorates the first female graduate from Melbourne University.

Melbourne University men’s crew weighed in 18kg heavier overall than the Sydney University men’s eight and Melbourne also had three 2012 London Olympians on board – James Marburg, Cameron McKenzie-McHarg and Joshua Booth. Sydney had one London Olympian, Francis Hegerty, in the crew. Australian national team member Fergus Pragnell stroked the Sydney boat and, as team captain, issued the challenge to Melbourne to contest the race.

During the men’s race both boats clashed oars several times as each coxswain pushed aggressively for the best line. Sydney managed to finally get ahead and they kept up a steady 35 stroke rate for the majority of the race. At the finish Sydney had won by five seconds. This is the third win for the Sydney men. The Edmund Barton Trophy was presented to the Sydney University crew by Australia’s Minister for Sport, Kate Lundy. Edmund Barton was Australia’s first prime minister and also a rower at Sydney University.

Noel estimates that about 2,000 spectators watched along the course and a ferry full of supporters followed the race as well as a fleet of water taxis.

The Australian Boat Race rotates between Sydney and Melbourne so the 2013 edition will be raced on the Yarra River in Melbourne.
For more information: www.australianboatrace.com

Fergus Pragnall makes the challenge to Melbourne University: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ-9k9qpZ8k