ACT Rowing Association

MEDIA RELEASE

9th August 2007

ACT Rowers on Day Two of World Junior Rowing Championships

ACT Rowers were again in force on Day Two of the World Junior Rowing Championships being held at the 2008 Olympic Course at Shunyi in Beijing, China.  Another calm day provided excellent rowing conditions for the 500 rowers that have descended on Shunyi for the Championships.
 
ACT Junior Women’s pair of Christabelle Northam and Veronica Tamsitt had the biggest challenge of the day taking on the might of host nation China who is favourite for this event.  The Chinese crew was all the more determined after being disqualified in the heats for an under weight boat.  With the first two places going through to the finals it would become an important race for second place.
 
It was the Portuguese crew who got out to an early flyer with the Chinese crew in second and at the 500m mark the Canadians were just ahead of the Australians in third.  By the half way mark the Australians had edged ahead of the Canadians with Portugal and China battling it out for the lead.  The Chinese showed their supremacy by taking the win and Portugal secured the second A Final spot.  The Canadians took third spot from the Australians, but both qualified for the B Final.
 
The Men’s Junior Quad represented by ACT Rowers Zac Cleaver and Nicholas Barnier with Queensland’s Angus Morton and Tasmanian David Wright flew the Aussie flag in today’s repechage.    A fast start by the Austrian crew caught everyone by surprise leading the Aussies and the much fancied French crew through the first 500m.  The French crew showed their strength moving to the lead at the half way mark with the Austrians in second and the Australians in third.   The Australians then made their move to take second with just 500m to the finish.  The French were too strong taking out the victory with the Australians extending their lead over Austria for a well deserved second place.  Securing second place means that the Australian crew will progress to the Semi Finals tomorrow.
 
To compete in the World Rowing Junior Championships, rowers must be 18 years or under.

Visit the official website of the International Rowing Federation www.worldrowing.com during the event to follow the live audio streaming, live results, race reports, interviews, photos and more.