Melbourne triumph at Australian University Rowing Championships

“It was a really great three days,” says Cleary, who took gold in the women’s single sculls and was part of Melbourne’s women’s eight. “Melbourne University was able to put our best performance on display over the regatta.”

The regatta comes part way through the Australian spring season and close to the end of their academic year (similar to the NCAA and IRA in the United States or the BUCS Rowing Championships in Great Britain that take place in the northern hemisphere spring).

“At this time of the season, anything can happen,” says Cleary who is completing a bachelor of science at the university.  “But I think the result speaks for itself in regards to the high standard of athleticism and sportsmanship displayed by the students at Melbourne Uni and the other universities around Australia who provided great competition. I personally had a really great experience and can’t wait to see what the future has in stall for the upcoming season and leading into the Olympics next year!”

The annual event attracts competition from universities across Australia and Cleary, who raced to 5th place at the 2015 World Rowing Championships in the Australian women’s quadruple sculls, was just one of over a dozen rowers with World Rowing under-23 or senior credentials. Many more of the competitors had competed for Australia at the World University Games, ensuring a high quality of racing at this domestic event.

International experience seems to have been key to Melbourne’s success. They include medical students Sarah Banting (coxswain of the Australian women’s eight) and Alice McNamara (bow seat of Australia’s lightweight women’s double sculls) as well as three team mates who raced at the University Games (Alice Arch, Hedda Cooper and Claudia Zucchelli).

“We are extremely proud of our international athletes,” says Melbourne women’s coach, Annabelle Eaton, “as well as our athletes who aspire to row for Australia and continue to represent Melbourne University.”

Melbourne won five of the seven women’s events to walk away with 288.5 points on the women’s side ahead of next place University of Sydney (196 women’s points). The University of Sydney, however, captured the men’s top spot with 238 points helped by a win in the men’s eight and a number of top three finishes. University of Adelaide (181 men’s points) placed second.

It was very close in the end, but Melbourne came out on top in the overall points rank (446 to Sydney’s 434).

The Universities of Sydney and Melbourne are traditional rivals and this narrow result will add fuel to the fire for when they meet again in a few weeks’ time at The Australian Boat Race on 25 October 2015 on the Yarra River, Melbourne.

For more information and full results for the Australian University Rowing Championships, please visit the Australian University Sport website. 

The Australian Boat Race, here.