Queensland rowers challenge Victoria

For the first time in history an elite rowing crew from The University of Queensland Boat Club (UQBC) will compete in Melbourne’s Head of the Yarra Regatta on Saturday, November 25.

The entry bodes well for UQBC in the lead up to the King’s Cup in March next year with the crew yet to break Queensland’s 39-year drought at the event.

The elite men’s eight will take part in the Head of the Yarra, a prestigious Australian rowing event which attracts almost 200 crews and draws many of the country’s top athletes

Based on the “Tideaway Head” annual race held on the Thames in London, the Head of the Yarra is a time trial conducted over an 8.6 kilometre course.

UQBC President Hardy Cubasch said it was a demanding event with Victorian crews dominating the entry list.

“It is a real honour and great satisfaction to see an elite eight from UQBC now able to take up the challenge and compete at the event,” Mr Cubasch said.

“For a lot of us it is a fantastic opportunity for the nucleus of the King’s Cup crew to train and race together.

“The Victorian crew are our traditional rival in the King’s Cup so it will be a good gauge of our preparation.”

The majority of the UQBC crew will make up the Queensland King’s Cup VIII.

The King’s Cup is the epitome of rowing in Australia, with every State and the ACT entering an eight to compete at the end of the National Championships in March.

With Queensland not having won the event since 1939, members of the UQBC crew are using every chance to prepare in the hope it will end the State’s losing streak.

In total, eight Queensland crews will travel to Melbourne for the Head of the Yarra.

The UQBC crew is made up Australian representatives Sam Conrad, Hardy Cubasch and Michael McBryde and other sound performers of the Queensland and club circuit David Galley, Michael McBryde, Dan Flynt, Craig Dorrstein, Graham Kolb, Ben Farrell and Jirik Haselgrove (Cox).

MEDIA: Melina Stephanos at UQ Sport (3346 7519, melinas@uqsport.uq.edu.au)