26 Jul 2010

The Australian men’s four has claimed bronze on the final day of the 2010 Under 23 World Rowing Championships in Brest, Belarus.
The crew of Joshua Dunkley Smith (VIC), Nicholas Purnell (NSW), Dominic Grimm (NSW) and Will Lockwood (VIC) finished behind the Italian and British crews in one of the closest finals of the day, winning the bronze medal in a time of 6:08.55.
Australia had entered the final after a disrupted regatta, with Dunkley Smith struggling with a virus that had forced him to miss the heat row on Thursday.
They qualified in Lane 5 for the final and were in fourth place for the opening half of the race before coming right into contention at the 1500m mark.
Italy, Great Britain and Australia were only separated by 0.63 seconds with 500m remaining, but Italy held on for gold, while the British pipped Australia by 0.07 seconds.
It concluded a strong tour for all four Australian rowers, after they had all featured in the Senior A World Cup tour in June and July. Dunkley Smith, Purnell and Lockwood had won the gold medal at the World Cup 2 in the men’s four, before featuring in the Australian men’s eight crew at World Cup 3 that won the silver medal.
Grimm, meanwhile, had won a gold medal at World Cup 3 in the men’s coxed pair.
All four will now return to Australia to complete their training ahead of the 2010 World Rowing Championships selection trials that will be held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre from 23-26 August.
In B Final action earlier in the day, the men’s quad scull claimed second place, the men’s eight finished third, the men’s lightweight double scull was fifth and the men’s lightweight four finished in sixth place.
For full results of all Australian crews please visit http://www.rowingaustralia.com.au/comp_intl_wchamps_under23_2010.shtm

For more information please call David Polglase on 0401 453 041