Photo Credit: Rowing NSW
Every year, the U21 Men’s quad at the Australian National Championships is hotly contested, with promising young athletes entering to test their skills in big boats. This year will not be an exception, with eight crews of promising young athletes from across Australia ready to compete for the top spot at Lake Barrington. Which crew will take the top step of the podium this year?
Sydney University Boat Club
The Sydney University crew of Warren, Miller-Wright, Tetley, and Mitchell are a new combination of the crew, which finished second at the rowing NSW State Championships in February with a time of 6:13.39. With the winning UTS crew absent from the entry list, this crew is a strong contender to win this year’s top spot.
Hawthorn Rowing Club
Hawthorn’s entry is the only all-Victorian crew entered this year. The crew of Stute, Stiger, Hexter, and Currie had strong individual results at the rowing Victoria State Championships; Stute, Stiger, and Hexter each had a strong showing in the U21 Single Scull, and Currie troubled some of Victoria’s top athletes in the open single scull. The combination of these athletes should produce a strong crew to race at Barrington.
Fremantle Rowing Club
The first of two West Australian crews, the boat of Vincent, Payne, Lourie, and Davis will come into Nationals as an unknown to the eastern athletes. However, given the travel distance, and the financial and logistic burden of transporting a boat and four athletes over four thousand kilometers to Lake Barrington, it is safe to assume this crew will be strong in this event.
Swan River Rowing Club
Based on the Swan River in Perth, the Swan River crew of Parnell, Salfinger, Flavel, and Porteous are also travelling an exceptionally long way, and can be expected to be competitive in this event. As the current Rowing Australia Club of the Year, this crew is certain to put on a strong performance.
Prediction
With so many crews having had few racing opportunities together and against one another, it is difficult to predict the outcome of this event. However, based on what information we do have on these young athletes, my pick for the top step would be Sydney University Boat Club, closely followed by Swan River and Fremantle battling for the minor medals.
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