Graham Croker
Long-standing Sydney University Women’s Rowing Club coach Alan Bennett has accepted an offer to take up a position as head coach of the University of Tokyo Rowing Club.
Bennett will finish his coaching duties with Sydney University at the Australian University Games in Perth in October.
During his five-and-a-half years at Sydney University, Bennett coached Sydney University crews to overall Australian University Championships in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009 and NSW State Championships pointscores between 2005-10.
He was also a coach of the NSW team from 2005-09 and the Australian team for the World University Championships in 2006 and 2008.
Meanwhile, Sydney University Boat Club and Women’s Rowing Club have 10 representatives in Australia’s Senior A Team crews competing at the 2010 World Championship regatta at Lake Karapiro, New Zealand this week.
Of the five Sydney University Olympians named, the most notable crew changes involve Beijing silver medallists Matt Ryan and Francis Hegerty.
The pair will shift out of the Men’s Four in which they have had a tremendous last couple of years to add experience and drive to a new look Men’s Eight, also featuring Sydney University’s Nick Purnell, Tobias Lister and Sam Loch.
Sydney University rowers in the Australian team are:
Nick Hudson – M2x
Nick Purnell – M8+
Matt Ryan – M8+
Francis Hegerty – M8+
Sam Loch – M8+
Tobias Lister – M8+
Fergus Pragnell – M4-
Brooke Pratley – W4x
Sally Kehoe – W4x
Sarah Cook – W4
