Home > Australian Crews in Other Events > 1979 Royal Canadian Henley

1979 – Royal Canadian Henley, St Catharines CAN 

Robin Poke in his history of Australian Rowing reported as follows:

The AWRC named Australia's first lightweight women's rowing team in response to an invitation from the United States to compete at the American championships in Detroit. It comprised a coxed four from the YWCA Club in Melbourne coached by Kath Bennett and a coxless pair, also Victoria-based. The championships took place from 14 to 17 June 1979.

Due to travel delays, the squad arrived only 36 hours before competing, so opted instead to contest the Canadian Championships at St Catharine's a few weeks later. This had been the venue for the 1970 World Championships.

There were 17 entries in the fours and 15 in the pairs in the championships. Both crews won their heats easily recording the fastest times.

In the four's 1000 metre final, the six crews could not be separated at the half-way mark. By 600 metres, the Australians - Mary Lou Johnston, Christine Betremieux, Michele Wright, Anne Maree Cox (stroke) and coxswain Jane Davidson - led by a length while rating 36, despite headwind conditions. They won the event in a time of three minutes 55 seconds with crews from Toronto and Washington second and third.

The pair won even more convincingly. Roslyn Barnard from Corio Bay and Monash University's Andrea Giles raced away to a four-lengths lead and rating 38 into the wind won in four minutes four seconds ahead of club crews Hamilton Leander and St Catharine's.

The aim of the AWRC to establish women's lightweight rowing at international level had been effectively realised.

Women’s Lightweight Pair - Gold

Bow: Ros Barnard (VIC)
Str: Andrea Giles (VIC)
Cch: Stephen Mollard (VIC)

Women’s Lightweight Four - Gold

Bow: Mary-Lou Johnston (VIC)
2: Christine Betremieux (VIC)
3: Michele Wright (VIC)
Str: Anne Maree Cox (VIC)
Cox: Jayne Davidson (VIC)
Emergency: Lesley Cummins (SA)
Cch & Manager: Kath Bennett (VIC)

---

Sources

• Looking Back, Rating High: A History of Australian Rowing, by Robin Poke, published by Walla Walla Pres in 2021
• Interview with Barbara Fenner

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided, errors may exist. Please send advice of any errors or inaccuracies by email to:



Also your comments, suggestions and photos are sought to enhance this site.

The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
These contents of this history are copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted by the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. However given that the purpose of the history is to assist rowers and rowing clubs, written permission is not required for non-commercial usage by rowers and rowing clubs provided acknowledgement is made.

Disclaimer: Whilst extensive efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied, the editors take no responsibility for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from inaccuracies contained in this work.