St Augustine’s Brookvale: Students win gold at the 2022 World Rowing Championships

Less than a month ago, an unassuming northern beaches Year 8 student was head down in textbooks. Now he’s on top of the world after helping four senior St Augustine’s College mates win gold at the U19 World Rowing Championships in Italy.

St Augustine’s College on the northern beaches has an Oarsome Foursome of their own, after the school’s crew claimed gold on the final day of the world champs in Italy.

Representing Australia in the under-19 Men’s Coxed Four, the all Augustine’s crew held off the fast finishing Italian’s to win Australia’s second gold medal of the five-day event.

The crew of four and their coxswain joined 17 other NSW representatives named in the national squad for the 2022 World Rowing U19 and U23 Championships held in Varese.

Australian gold medal winning u19 Men‘s Coxed Four rowing team, 2022 World Rowing U19 & U23 Championships held in Varese, Italy, 30 July 2022. Brandon Smith, Oliver St Pierre, Joseph Lynch, Joshua Wilson and Ryder Taylor (cox). Supplied: Rowing Australia/World Rowing

Year 11 student, Joe Lynch, is the youngest on the oars, while Joshua Wilson, Oliver St Pierre and Brandon Smith have had to juggle HSC commitments.

Ryder Taylor (cox), at just 13, was the competition‘s youngest competitor. A fact not lost on the crew’s respected coach, Judith Ungemach.

“The final was a very mature race by the young crew,” Ungemach said.

“Initially they were fifth after 500m, but trusted their process and speed. They kept it internal and focused on pushing their legs rather than worrying about what was going on around them.

“The Italians were coming back hard at the finish, but the boys held them off,” the proud coach said from Milan.

The coach was doubly pleased to be sharing the success with inner west rowing club, UTS Haberfield.

“St Augustine‘s and UTS Haberfield are collaborating on a program to develop pathway programs for talented athletes.

“Boys can join the rowing program from Year 8, this year there’s 35,” she said before reflecting on the programs enormous success

“This world title, along with the 11 Australian representatives, shows that our small rowing program is not only competitive against traditional rowing schools but also on the international stage.”

Proving there’s no rest for the best at the elite level, Ungemach signed off with an eye already looking towards next year.

“It’s the off season now, and once the boys finish their HSC, they are planning to come back next year in the U21 category to qualify for the state and national teams again.”

U19 Men‘s Coxed Four Final

1 Australia 06:12.91 GOLD

2 Italy 06:13.44 SILVER

3 Turkey 06:15.10 BRONZE

4 South Africa 06:16.60

5 Hungary 06:22.79

6 Germany 06:24.81