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history of australian rowing at world championships

1991 World Championships- Vienna Austria

Photos 1991 World Championships Photo Gallery

1991 was an exciting and successful season highlighted by two gold medals and seven finalists. It was the largest Australian rowing team to race in Europe with 74 members.

Further, two crews raced at the Lucerne Regatta with great success, three crews undertook altitude training at St Moritz and the men's four had a successful two month tour of Europe.

The men's four once again won at Lucerne and at the World Championships making them the hot favourite for the 1992 Olympic Games. The lightweight quad scull raced a heartstopping race rowing through the field to win by 0.23 seconds.

Special mention must be made of Peter Antonie's fourth place in the single scull. For a person of his height and weight his result in the final was unbelievable particularly after one of the toughest semi final races ever seen. Peter was still very stiff and sore from the semi-final when the final was raced two days later.

Also with a sensational semi final was the men's double scull which was won by Australia. Australia led the whole way but with 100m to go four crews were in a line before Austria stopped rowing to the horror of the home crowd. Australia went on to record a win in that race. In the final our crew led to the 1000m but was unable to withhold the opposition in the second half of the race.

The Australian lightweight crews were very strong but it appeared that the standard had risen across the board internationally since 1990 as well.

The altitude camp was undertaken under the stewardship of Thor Nilsen, the successful coach of Italian, Norwegian, Spanish and Irish crews. Alan Hahn from the AIS joined the tour as a consultant, continuing his work into physiological aspects of rowing performance. Much was learned from the altitude experience, though it was not repeated in 1992.

Index to Results on this Page
M1x M2x M4x    
M2- M2+ M4- M4+ M8
W1x W2x W4x    
W2-   W4-   W8
ML1x ML2x ML4x    
    ML4-   ML8
WL1x WL2x      
    WL4-    

Results

Men's Single Scull

Final C: 13th SWE, 14th USA, 15th FIN, 16th MEX, 17th YUG, 18th LIB
Final B: 7th NOR, 8th ARG, 9th GRE, 10th ITA, 11th SUI, 12th URS
Final: 1st GER 6.41.29, 2nd TCH 6.45.26, 3rd POL 6.48.91, 4th AUS 6:52.35, 5th NZL 6:53.71, 6th AUT 7:00.08

World Champion Sculler Thomas Lange

World Champion Thomas Lange

Peter finished third in his heat and second in his repechage. In this author's opinion, his greatest race ever was in the semi-final where he qualified. He raced against far stronger and bigger opposition and had to row through them to get third place. However this race was to drain him completely and so his final result of fourth was sensational.

Men's Double Scull

Final D: 18th BUL, 19th JPN
Final C: 13th POR, 14th MEX, 15th FRA, 16th GBR, 17th GRE
Final B: 7th AUT, 8th FIN, 9th HUN, 10th TCH, 11th ITA, 12th BEL
Final: 1st NED 6:06.14, 2nd URS 6:07.49, 3rd GER 6:08.36, 4th NOR 6:09.71, 5th AUS 6:12.09, 6thUSA 6:16.52

The Australians finished second in their heat and won both their repechage and semi-final. The Semi was against the silver and bronze medallists and so the final result would have been a disappointment.

Men's Quad Scull

Final C: 13th TCH, 14th AUT, 15th HUN, 15th ISR
Final B: 7th POL, 8th SUI, 9th FRA, 10th DEN, 11th ESP, 12th AUS
Final: 1st URS 6:08.39, 2nd ITA 6:11.21, 3rd HOL 6;13.03, 4th GER 6:14.08, 5th USA 6:16.00, 6th SWE 6:17.66

The Australian crew had experimented with altitude training along with the men's double and single. The crew finished third in their heat, third in the repechage and fifth in the semi-final. The result was disappointing in a pre Olympic year.

Men's Coxless Pair

Final D: 18th JPN, 19th BUL
Final C: 13th DEN, 14th ITA, 15th FIN, 16th MEX, 17th POL
Final B: 7th CAN, 8th USA, 9th NZL, 10th BEL, 11th HUN, 12th ROM
Final: 1st GBR 6.21.35, 2nd YUG 6.24.18, 3rd AUT 6.24.51, 4th URS 6:24.59, 5th FRA 6:25.85, 6th GER 6:31.75

Men's Coxed Pair

Final C: 13th CUB, 14th BUL, 15th BRA
Final B: 7th ESP, 8th FRA, 9th USA, 10th GBR, 11th AUT, 12th GRE
Final: 1st ITA 7.34.39, 2nd POL 7.35.83, 3rd TCH 7.38.02, 4th ROM 7:38.97, 5th GER 7:42.19, 6th YUG 7:46.61

Another great win to the Abbagnale brothers.

Men's Coxless Four

Final B: 7th GBR, 8th DEN, 9th FIN
Final: 1st AUS 6.29.69, 2nd USA 6:32.2, 3rd GER 6.34.43, 4th ITA 6:35.82, 5th HOL 6:38.04, 6th FRA 6:42.36

The Oarsome Foursome won despite being penalised a false start for a traffic infringement the day before.

Men's Coxed Four

Final C: 13th BUL, 14th YUG
Final B: 7th USA, 8th CHN, 9th CUB, 10th ITA, 11th BEL, 12th TCH
Final: 1st GER 5:58.96, 2nd ROM 6:00.29, 3rd POL 6:01.30, 4th GBR 6:01.50, 5th FRA 6:02.13, 6th URS 6:03.37

Men's Eight

Final B: 7th URS, 8th USA, 9th ITA, 10th AUS, 11th TCH
Final: 1st GER 5:50.98, 2nd CAN 5:51.68, 3rd GBR 5:52.74, 4th ROM 5:53.12, 5th CHN 5:58.50, 6th NZL 6:00.50

Women's Single Scull

Final B: 7th HOL, 8th BUL, 9th MEX, 10th GRE, 11th CYP
Final: 1st CAN 8.17.58, 2nd ROM 8.20.53, 3rd BEL 8.21.96, 4th USA 8:24.31, 5th SWE 8:30.13, 6th GER 8:36.71

Another great result for Silken Laumann of Canada.

Women's Double Scull

Final B: 7th AUS, 8th USA, 9th HUN, 10th SWE, 11th AUT, 12th BEL
Final: 1st GER 6.44.71, 2nd ROM 6.46.40, 3rd URS 6.47.36, 4th CHN 6:50.18, 5th BUL 6:56.02, 6th GBR 6:59.47

The Australians finished third in both heat and repechage and therefore were relegated to the B final.

Women's Quad Scull

Final B: 7th CHN, 8th DEN, 9th USA
Final: 1st GER 6.55.85, 2nd URS 7.00.37, 3rd ROM 7.04.86, 4th HOL 7:06.67, 5th BUL 7:13.98, 6th TCH 7:17.63

Women's Pair

Final B: 7th TCH, 8th AUS, 9th JPN
Final: 1st CAN 6.57.42, 2nd GER 6.59.55, 3rd GBR 7.02.28, 4th FRA 7:05.48, 5th ROM 7:12.10, 6th USA 7:14.56

Women's Four

Final B: 7th FRA, 8th AUS, 9th URS, 10th BUL
Final: 1st CAN 6.25.47, 2nd USA 6.27.39, 3rd GER 6.30.30, 4th CHN 6:30.30, 5th GBR 6:33.89, 6th ROM 6:36.00

The Australians disappointed in their repechage finishing last and being relegated to the B final.

Women's Eight

Final B: 7th CHN, 8th NZL, 9th BUL, 10th TCH, 11th AUS
Final: 1st CAN 6.28.20, 2nd URS 6.28.73, 3rd ROM 6.34.07, 4th USA 6:34.55, 5th GER 6:36.66, 6th FRA 6:41.40

The Australian eight finished fourth in their heat and repechage and last in their B final.

Australian Team

men's lightweight quad scull

Men's Lightweight Quad Scull

bow Simon Burgess, 2 Gary Lynagh, 3 Bruce Hick, str Stephen Hawkins

Men's Single Scull—Fourth
Peter Antonie (VIC)
Cch: Brian Richardson (VIC)

Men's Double Scull—Fifth
Bow: Jason Day (VIC)
Str: Richard Powell (QLD)
Cch: Bob Bleakley (QLD)

Men's Quad Scull—Twelfth
Bow: Paul Reedy (VIC)
2: Craig Jones (ACT)
3: Hamish McGlashan (VIC)
Str: Robin Bakker (QLD)
Cch: Brian Richardson (VIC)

Men's Coxless Four—Gold
Bow: Nick Green (VIC)
2: Michael McKay (VIC)
3: Andrew Cooper (VIC)
Str: James Tomkins (VIC)
Cch: Noel Donaldson (VIC)

Men's Eight—Tenth
Bow: Peter Murphy (VIC)
2: Richard Roach (NSW)
3: Matthew Roach (NSW)
4: Simon Guerke (NSW)
5: David Weightman (QLD)
6: Nick McDonald Crowley (NSW)
7: Robert Scott (WA)
Str: Malcolm Batten (VIC)
Cox: Dale Caterson (NSW)
Cch: Reinhold Batschi (ACT)
Res: Matthew Cordery (NSW)

Men's Lightweight Double Scull—Seventh
Bow: Sam Golding (VIC)
Str: Tim Wise (VIC)
Cch: Danny Elliott (VIC)

Men's Lightweight Quad Scull—Gold
Bow: Simon Burgess (TAS)
2: Gary Lynagh (QLD)
3: Bruce Hick (ACT)
Str: Stephen Hawkins (TAS)
Cch: Tim McLaren (NSW)

Men's Lightweight Coxless Four—Fourth
Bow: Gavin Russell (SA)
2: Matthew Weir (SA)
3: David Belcher (SA)
Str: John Keogh (SA)
Cch: Matthew Draper (SA)
Res: Ivan Hooper (QLD)

Men's Lightweight Eight—Fourth
Bow: Ian Rycroft (VIC)
2: Raoul Luescher (VIC)
3: Andrew McCubbery (VIC)
4: Bill Peden (VIC)
5: Joe Joyce (VIC)
6: Derek Mollison (VIC)
7: Lyall McCarthy (VIC)
Str: Simon Langenbacher (VIC)
Cox: David Colvin (VIC)
Cch: John Cumper (VIC)
Res: Simon Pringle (VIC) & Tim Brew (SA) (non trav)

Women's Double Scull—Seventh
Bow: Jenny Luff (NSW)
Str: Gillian Campbell (ACT)
Cch: Paul Rowe (ACT)

Women's Pair—Eighth
Bow: Courtney Johnstone (VIC)
Str: Fleur Spriggs (QLD)
Cch: Paul Thompson

Women's Four—Eighth
Bow: Jodie Dobson (VIC)
2: Emmelia Snook (WA)
3: Megan Still (NSW)
Str: Kate Slatter (SA)
Cch: Paul Thompson (NSW)

Women's Eight—Twelfth
Bow: Marina Cade (VIC)
2: Rebecca Joyce (VIC)
3: Courtney Johnstone (QLD)
4: Fleur Spriggs (NSW)
5:Jodie Dobson (VIC)
6: Emmelia Snook (WA)
7: Megan Still (ACT)
Str: Kate Slatter (SA)
Cox: Georgia Green (VIC)
Cch: Paul Thompson (NSW)

Women's Lightweight Double Scull—Tenth
Bow: Leisa Wilson (VIC)
Str: Sue Herold (VIC)
Cch: Jack Bennett (VIC)

Women's Lightweight Four—Fifth
Bow: Tamsin Angus-Leppan (NSW)
2: Deidre Fraser (VIC)
3: Marina Cade (VIC)
Str: Rebecca Joyce (VIC)
Cch:Brian Dalton (VIC)
Res: Debbie Fox (NSW)

Head coach: Reinhold Batschi
Manager: Andrew Guerin (VIC)
Assistant Managers: Jack Bennett (VIC), Dr David Yates (VIC)
Doctors: Bill Webb (NSW), Dr David Coles (ACT)
Physiotherapist: Henry Wajswelner (VIC)
Masseur: Luke Attwell (VIC)
Selectors: David Yates (VIC), Dennis Hatcher (VIC), David Poulson (TAS)
Jury: James Harvey (VIC)

More Results

Men's Lightweight Single Scull

Final D: 18th TUR, 19th CHI
Final C: 13th SUI, 14th FIN, 15th ITA, 16th AUT, 17th JPN
Final B: 7th POR, 8th URS, 9th NZL, 10th GBR, 11th MEX, 12th CAN
Final: 1st IRL 6.49.17, 2nd GER 6.49.96, 3rd BEL 6.52.26, 4th HOL 6:53.41, 5th USA 6:54.19, 6th DEN 6:55.73

Men's Lightweight Double Scull

Final C: 13th NOR, 14th JPN, 15th HKG
Final B: 7th AUS, 8th USA, 9th SWE, 10th IRL 11th ITA, 12th CAN
Final: 1st GER 6.20.04, 2nd AUT 6.25.29, 3rd HOL 6.26.22, 4th SUI 6:28.33, 5th GRE 6:35.30, 6th TCH

Men's Lightweight Quad Scull

Final C: 13th POR, 14th ESP, 15th HUN, 16th POL, 17th AUT, 18th TUR
Final B: 7th DEN, 8th GBR, 9th CUB, 10th TCH, 11th HOL, 12th YUG
Final: 1st AUS 6.37.02, 2nd SWE 6.37.25, FRA 6.38.02 3, 4th GER 6:39.80, 5th ITA 6:40.57, 6th USA 6:41.77

This was a great race and a great result for the Australians.

Men's Lightweight Four

Final B: 7th CAN, 8th DEN, 9th AUT, 10th IRL, 11th GUA, GER withdrawn
Final: 1st GBR 5:57.60, 2nd ITA 5:58.61, 3rd ESP 6:00.85, 4th AUS 6:02.26, 5th HOL 6:05.54, 6th USA 6:07.30

The Australian crew finshed second in both their heat and semi-final.

Men's Lightweight Eight

Final B: 7th GER.8th POR
Final: 1st ITA 6.13.21, 2nd FRA 6.13.40, 3rd USA 6.15.25, 4th AUS 6:17.57, 5th GBR 6:18.44, 6th AUT 6:26.68

Women's Lightweight Single Scull

Final C: 13th AUT, 14th HKG
Final B: 7th GBR, 8th GRE, 9th FRA, 10th SUI, 11th CAN, 12th SWE
Final: 1st NZL 7:29.99, 2nd HOL 7:32.41, 3rd DEM 7:33.17, 4th USA 7:33.31, 5th GER 7:43.78, 6th ITA 7:46.26

Women's Lightweight Double Scull

Final C: 13th HUN, ITA withdrew
Final B: 7th SWE, 8th POL, 9th SUI, 10th AUS, 11th HOL 12th AUT
Final: 1st GER 7.58.53, 2. USA 8.00.16, 3rd DEN 8.06.32, 4th CAN 8:12.04, 5th GBR 8:16.67, 6th POR 8:22.02

Women's Lightweight Coxless Four

Final B: 7th ZIM, 8th POR, ITA withdrew
Final: 1st CHN 7:37.06, 2nd GBR 7:41.15, 3rd USA 7:43.99, 4th GER 7:49.15, 5th AUS 7:53.99, 6th CAN 7:58.78

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