The University of Queensland Boat Club (UQBC) men’s crew finished in record time to clinch the silver at the famous Head of the Yarra regatta recently.
Regarded as the classic event of Australian Rowing, the race saw 171 crews fight it out over a challenging 8.6km course.
The UQBC team, having already won the Head of the Brisbane and newly introduced Head to Paradise regattas this year, were beaten by less than three seconds by a crew from the Mercantile Rowing Club.
Both crews broke the previous course record in finishing more than two-and-a-half minutes clear of the rest of the field, with Melbourne University coming in third.
UQBC were always going to be up against it with two-time Rowing World Champion Drew Ginn and Olympian David Crawshay leading the charge for Mercantile.
UQBC Club Captain Dave Galley was happy with the result, but conceded that Mercantile deserved to take out the title.
“Merc’s deserved to win, as they came back after a crash with Melbourne University on the notorious big bend,” he said.
Sponsored by Tattersall’s club, the UQBC crew was coxed by Dan Licastro, stroked by Michael McBryde with Hardy Cubasch, Dave Dancer, Jared Bidwell, Blair Brown, Graham Kolb, Dave Galley and Matthew Bolster making up the boat.
UQBC Head Coach Lincoln Handley was impressed with the crew and how they handled the conditions.
“The boys have had a very solid pre season and their performance today reflected the hard work that they have put in this year. It was great to watch the UQBC guys row down and then pass Melbourne Uni,” he said.
Media: Stephen Danckert (07 3346 7519, stephend@uqsport.uq.edu.au) or Rachel Hawksford (07 3345 6031, rachelh@uqsport.uq.edu.au) at UQ SPORT
