Australia announced 2019 Junior, U21 and U23 Australian Rowing Teams

U23 World Championships to be raced in Sarasota, USA; Junior World Championships to be raced in Tokyo, Japan

U21 Australian Rowing Team take on New Zealand to defend Rusty Roberston Trophy in Trans-Tasman Regatta

Rowing Australia today announced its crews that will race at the 2019 World Rowing Junior Championships and the 2019 World Rowing U23 Championships. In addition, RA also announced the U21 Australian Rowing Team that will compete in the 2019 Trans-Tasman Regatta against New Zealand.

Eleven crews have been named in the U23 Australian Rowing Team that will compete at the 2019 World Rowing U23 Championships to be held in Sarasota, Florida, USA from 24 to 28 July 2019. The size of the team could further increase, depending on upcoming trials for US College-based Australians who will trial between 13 and 16 June 2019.

Meanwhile, Australia will send six crews to the World Rowing Junior Championships, to be held in Tokyo, Japan from 7 to 11 August 2019. In addition to being a Junior World Rowing Championships, the event acts as a test event for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games rowing events.

Rowing Australia Deputy Performance Director, Jaime Fernandez said, “It’s fantastic to be able to name two big teams to compete at this year’s Junior and U23 World Rowing Championships, as well as our team for the Trans-Tasman Regatta.

“The calibre of trials this year stepped up once again, the depth is improving across the country and we’re excited to see what our athletes can do on the world stage as they move through the Australian rowing pathway. As always, the RA coaches and athletes have a clear focus on performances in the here and now, however, there is an equal level of focus on the potential of athletes and the future from a development perspective.

“Recognising and acknowledging that an athlete’s ‘pathway’ is complex and far from linear in nature, we need to be investing in the future and building athletes, along with crews, for the long term. I wish all the crews and coaches the best of luck for this year’s events and thank the clubs, states and families for their ongoing support of the Australian Rowing Teams.”

The U23 Australian Rowing Team sees some familiar faces in the team, including World Rowing Junior and Youth Olympic medallist, Cormac Kennedy-Leverett from Queensland, who is making the step up into the U23 Men’s Single Scull. While U23 World Championship medallist Harriet Hudson (NSW) and Giorgia Patten (WA) are combining in the Women’s Double Scull for their final season in the U23 category.

The U23 Men’s Coxed Four features a familiar face from the Junior and U23 rowing scene, with Queensland’s Adam Bakker making a return to the U23 team, the first time since he won gold in the U23 Men’s Four in 2017. The two-time Junior World Championships medallist is joined by Ben Canham (VIC), Mitchell Hooper (VIC), Angus Dawson (SA) and coxswain Caitlin Hockings (QLD) in the crew coached by Nick Mitchell.

A familiar name amongst the coaching staff for the U23s is that of multiple World Championships medallist, and Olympic silver medallist, Matt Ryan. The Melbourne University BC Head Coach joins his first Australian Rowing Team as a coach of the U23 Men’s Four that will race in the USA this year. Ryan’s crew is made of brother Nick and Rohan Lavery (both VIC), Marcus Britt and Will O’Shannessy (both NSW).

In the Junior Australian Rowing Team, 2018 World Rowing Junior Championship medallists Hamish Henriques (WA) and Laura Chancellor (QLD) return to the team. Henriques, having won bronze in the Junior Men’s Coxed Four last year, will this year join Harrison Fox (VIC) in the Junior Men’s Double Scull, while Chancellor, who won a silver medal in the Junior Women’s Coxed Four, will join her Toowong club mate in the Junior Women’s Pair.

There’s a strong family connection in the Junior Australian Rowing Team, with Torben Ungemach selected into the Junior Men’s Four and both his parents selected as coaches on the team. Mosman Rowing Club’s Matthias Ungemach will take charge of the Junior Men’s Four, while the Junior Men’s Coxed Four will be coached by Judith Ungemach.

The U21 Australian Rowing Team will compete in Sydney from 27 to 29 June and then again on Lake Karapiro in New Zealand, from 22 to 24 August. The team will be looking to retain the prestigious Rusty Robertson Trophy in the annual Trans-Tasman Regatta. The U21 series is a positive development opportunity for Australia’s Pathway athletes transitioning between the Junior (U19) and Under 23 categories).

This year, there are a number of junior athletes who have stepped up into the U21 ranks, including 2018 World Rowing Junior Championships medallists Miller Rowe, Logan Ullrich, Lauren Graham and Isabelle Furrer.

A familiar name to the rowing community will also be that of Joe Lovrich, the son of 1984 Olympic silver medallist, Tony, who has been selected in the men’s sculling section alongside Canberra-local Harry Glackin.

The coaching group is made up of two-time Olympian, Brendan Long, along with Leo Karadimitris, Hally Chapman and Lachlan Carter. The Head Coach will be named in due course.

Click here to view the 2019 Junior Australian Rowing Team

Click here to view the 2019 U21 Australian Rowing Team

Click here to view the 2019 U23 Australian Rowing Team

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