The Rhodes University Rowing Club face a stern test at Kowie River in Port Alfred this weekend as they attempt to repeat last year’s impressive University Sport South Africa (USSA) Boat Race performance.
The Rhodes University Rowing Club face a stern test at Kowie River in Port Alfred this weekend as they attempt to repeat last year’s impressive University Sport South Africa (USSA) Boat Race performance.
In 2015, Rhodes men qualified for their first A-final since 2007, defying all odds to win a silver medal. However, precisely because of the talent in their ranks, their preparations for 2016 have been anything but a smooth ride.
Star rowers Bradley Betts, Nicholas Greeff, and Murray Bales-Smith have had their training disrupted by national team duties. Betts competed for South Africa at the U23 World Championships in Rotterdam, while Greeff and Bales-Smith rowed for the country at the World University Championsips in Poznan.
Men’s captain Thomas Lungu has thus had a difficult job, as his crew has had only two weeks to prepare together. However, he expressed confidence in their ability to cause a stir once more this year.
“[The disrupted training regime] does not mean they won’t be completive as the rest of the squad has put in the training in smaller boats, and those retuning form U23s, as well as the world student games, are in peak condition,” he said.
The women’s A crew have had fewer disruptions in their training regime, with only Namibia U23 rower Maike Diekmann having to depart for international duty. Having finished third in last year’s B-final, they will be looking to punch above their weight this time around.
Women’s captain Ashton Lucey was unavailable for comment, but Lungu tipped his peers to impress.
UPDATE: Since these quotes were collected, both the Rhodes men and women have qualified for the A-final. The men are racing aginst University of Pretoria in a repeat of last year’s final, while the women are racing the University of Johannesburg.
