Olympians, rising stars among the winners after action-packed day at 2023 Coastals
Former Olympians and current national representatives were among the major winners on a spectacular Saturday at the Australian Coastal Rowing and Beach Sprint Championships at Mooloolaba on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
It was a packed program after racing was called to a halt early on Friday due to conditions. But competitors and an interested crowd of weekend onlookers, who loved the thrills and occasional spills of the new action sport, were treated to picture perfect conditions in the Sunshine State.
Having made it past Kiwi Olympic Single Scull champion Emma Twigg earlier in the day, Pine Rivers’ Georgia Stoddart made it to the A Final of the Open Women’s Beach Sprint Solo but wasn’t able to get past UQ’s Lucy Hope, who took the Gold.
Australian Coastal Rowing representative Marcus Della Marta showed his class once more when he triumphed in the Open Men’s Beach Sprint Solo, eclipsing UTS Haberfield club mate Daniel Johnston over the short course.
Della Marta wasn’t done for the day, pairing with Thea Adamson to collect another Gold, this time in the Open Mixed Beach Sprint Double after a tight contest with the boat from UQ crewed by Sarah Tisdall and Liam McCoy.
A pair of Olympians combined to take out the Open Women’s Beach Sprint Double Scull, with Julia Bell (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004) and Sonia Heath (Beijing 2008) showing their class as a duo.
Heath, who lives on the Sunshine Coast and was representing the Mooloolaba Surf Live Saving Club, a stone’s throw from the racing, said it was a brilliant day at the beach in a new sport.
”It’s been great,” Heath said. “A reunion of sorts and great to do rowing in a different format.”
Harry and Matthew Curtin combined in the men’s edition to top the podium and round out a brilliant day of racing at the beach. Check out our live results platform for all the medal winners and full results from Saturday’s racing.
The post Olympians, rising stars among the winners after action-packed day at 2023 Coastals appeared first on Rowing Australia.