Day 1 – Monday , 5th March

Still & hot conditions welcomed rowers from across Australia to Champion Lakes, WA, for this year’s Australian Rowing National Championships. With 36C conditions and head winds coming in there was going to be a hot day of racing at the office!

Under 23 Men’s Single Scull (U23M1x)

There were 28 entrants for this category with First place in the heats only progressing direct to the semi-finals, with the remainder going through to repacharge. Notable to mention the title holder for this category from 2011 was the ACT’s own NICK BARNIER of CANBERRA RC, who did not disappoint winning his heat in the fastest time of the event and progressing through to the semi-finals!

Under 23 Men’s Pair (U23M2-)

With several entrants following up from a successful 2011 Junior National Team campaign, this was always going to be a category with growing competition. In spite of stiff headwinds having blown up at this stage of the morning, ANGUS MOORE of CANBERRA RC, National Team member of the U23 Men’s Eight in 2011, rowed long strokes of strong rhythm with his pair partner from Melbourne University, Sam Hookway, to take this out in easy fashion and likewise finish through to the semi-finals and escape the repecharges.

Day 2 – Tuesday 6th March

Under 23 Men’s Double Scull

The officials were spot on the money describing this as the hottest race of both the event and the day’s program involving the finest Under 23 Men’s scullers in the country! In spite of blistering hot head winds and near 40C temperatures the team of NICK BARNIER from CANBERRA RC teamed up with long friend Ben Morely of Queensland Academy of Sport, to impress selectors in this event. With NRCE (National Rowing Centre of Excellence) Selectors already prioritising the U23 Men’s Double for National 2012 team nominations, it was an event to hotly watch.

Within the 1000m mark the Canberra composite crew found itself in an unusual 4th place and a length down, and with only the top 3 securing an opportunity to the semi final in an uphill nettle to the line. With 500m to go the crew wound up the rating to 40 spm with one goal in mind – the result – SECOND … and through to the semis!

Day 3 – Wednesday 7th March

With semi finals now in train and 1 opportunity through to the Finals for the Under 23 Single Sculls, there was no doubt ACT Academy of Sport Coach, GORDON MARCKS, would be doing his homework studying the conditions, the prior results, and much more to get the ACT’s best through to the Finals in all important top 2 placings for an all important Finals berth.

First cab off the rank was NICK BARNIER in the Under 23 Single Scull. The conditions had changed around quite significantly from the prior 2 days to a cooler and stiff tail wind. Sticking to a form race plan, Nick found himself shaking loose the competition early in to the 2nd 500m to secure a strong margin over the other rivals and finish in SECOND and through to the FINALS!

Next cab was young GUS MOORE pairing up again with Victorian Sam Hookway of MUBC to contend for a Finals berth in the Under 23 Men’s Pair. Under rating all competition keeping easy and long rhythm, the Pair kept a strong position above the competition to finish SECOND and through to the FINALS!

Keeping with the theme for the day, quick conditions prevailed and ensured the Under 23 Men’s Coxless Four composite crew of Victorians Hookway, Poulter, Simpson and CRC’S ANGUS MOORE to win their heat in the fastest time of the event in 5.58 over the 2km distance and win pillar to post, ahead of all crews at every marker of the race.

A solid performance for the rowers representing the ACT in these young categories. With Finals berths now secured for the Canberra crews, coach GORDON MARCKS will be keeping the rowers with good strategy … and a cool head searching for some Brim fish at the end of Fremantle jetty!

By: Chris Polyichanin – Updated on: 8/03/2012