Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) athletes Hannah Every-Hall and Alice McNamara have won gold in the women’s lightweight double scull final, after a magnificent performance on 11 July at Rowing World Cup 3 in Lucerne, Switzerland.

After a slow start Every-Hall and McNamara surged to the lead at the 1000-metre mark. They went on to record a comfortable victory, recording a time of 7 minutes and 7.85 seconds, three quarters of a boat length ahead of the United Kingdom’s Sophie Hosking and Hester Goodsell.

‘To describe the feeling of winning the gold medal here is beyond words,’ Every-Hall said.
‘Just on 12 months ago I was competing at the Australian Masters Regatta and now to be back here and to win an international gold medal is amazing.’

In other strong results for Australia, AIS athletes claimed two silver medals in the women’s double scull and men’s eight finals. 

AIS rowers Sally Kehoe and Kim Crow teamed up to take on the UK crew of Katherine Grainger and Kim Watkins in the women’s double scull event.

Great Britain took the lead at the half way mark and, despite a huge effort by Australia, came in first in 6 minutes 53.2 seconds. Australia finished two seconds behind in (6:51.2).

In the men’s eight, AIS athletes Joshua Dunkley-Smith, Nicholas Purnell, Sam Loch, Will Lochwood, Brodie Buckland, Fergus Pragnell, Tom Swann and Tom Larkins coxed by Toby Lister finished in second place behind the German crew that went on to win the race in 5:30.32.2.   

‘Until the end of the race we fought and gave all we could. Last year Great Britain was in front of us,’ Dunkley-Smith said.

‘This year it’s the other way round. So that is good. We hope to stay in the same combination. ’ 

The Australian team will now set their sights on preparation for the 2010 World Rowing Championships taking place at the Sydney International Regatta Centre from 23 to 26 August 2010.