A TOTAL of 30 rowing clubs from across New South Wales and some from interstate will contest the Taree Summer Regatta this weekend.
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Racing starts at 2pm on Friday for a three hour session. Events continue tomorrow and Sunday from 8am for the expected 560 competitiors.
One of the highlights of the program is the Stacks Finance and Croker Oars sponsored mixed eight, starting about 12.50pm on Sunday, with $1000 in prizemoney going to the winning crew and the same amount being spread over the second, third and fourth. Sydney University has dominated this event since its inception in 2014 with Sydney Rowing Club runners up on both occasions. Will Raven returns as Sydney University coxswain and is hoping to make it three-in-a-row on Sunday.
Sydney University will field a strong crew with impressive lightweight Jack Hanley and talented Fiona Ewing on board. Sydney Rowing Club boast a very youthful crew this year on the back of their successful recruiting for their women's program. Glebe - with the vastly experienced Ken Major in the stroke seat - will be one to watch as they look to improve on their third placing from the last two years, boosted by five returning crew members.
St George and Leichhardt are expected to feature heavily as both clubs are bringing strong contingents as they look to entrench themselves in yet another battle at the top of the NSW pointscore.
Irish-born Western Australian, Kevin Wall has made the long journey across the Nullabor as part of his preparations for the 2016 Paralympic trials.
Wall has been involved in a long running battle to gain citizenship and the right to be able to represent Australia internationally. The Para single scull is another highlight on Sunday's program starting at 1.50pm. The 2014 world championship silver medallists Kate Murdoch (Nepean) and Jeremy McGrath (Balmain) are part of a very strong field that contains former NSW and Australian champion, Stephen Knott (St George).
World under 23 bronze medallist Alex Purnell takes to the water at 8.05am on Sunday, drawn in the adjacent lane to 2015 Australian under 19 single scull silver medallist Max Duignan of Sydney Rowing Club in a hotly contested division of the men's Under 23 single scull.