Pair wins bronze at world champs

THREE members of Wendouree-Ballarat Rowing Club have shone on the global stage.

Lucy Richardson and Katie Jackson, coached by Jamie McDonald, won A final bronze in their pair during the 2023 World Under-19 World Championships at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium in Paris, France.

In a close-fought battle to the line, Richardson and Jackson were beaten by teams from Romania and Greece.

The green and gold pair secured the bronze over a team competing under the Individual Neutral Athletes banner, but only narrowly, by just 0.13 seconds.

WBRC captain Rebecca Gribble said the club is not only “super proud” of the girls and McDonald, but that the organisation has been able to provide local pathways for them to succeed at the highest level.

“It’s the first time in a long time that we’ve had a full Ballarat crew and coach at that elite international level,” she said.

“The girls are so fortunate that they’ve matched up so well, and that they both wanted to do this.

“We provided them the platform to pursue their dream for rowing for Australia in the pair, and we hope this result will inspire other kids across the schools in Ballarat to realise that you don’t have to leave, or be at a Melbourne school, to make the Australian team.

“If you put in the work, there are still opportunities to be selected onto a national team by staying with a Ballarat club.”

Stroke and bow respectively, Richardson and Jackson faced challenging wet and windy conditions throughout the world regatta.

They won their heat on the first day of racing with the third fastest women’s pair qualifying time, and they progressed straight to the semi-finals.

The WBRC crew and coach were rowing in northern Italy ahead of the regatta, training at the Australian Institute of Sport’s European Training Centre at Lake Varese.

The Vaires-sur-Marne course will host Olympic rowing events in 2024.