Boat club rows from strength to strength

Sport

The future looks bright for the Adelaide University Boat Club as it comes off one its most successful seasons in 2004/05.

Strong showings by individuals and teams at state and national level established the AUBC as the best performing club in the state - a promising sign, especially as the club celebrates its 125th anniversary next year.

Outgoing Captain Adelaide Boylan said the club had made significant strides both on and off course during the past 12 months.

"We have some very talented rowers at our club and it has been great to see them improve and start to have some excellent results," she said. "Many of our rowers are also students at the University of Adelaide, so they have a good mix of study, rowing and socialising.

"We are also doing much better off the water: we are debt-free and able to start renovating our clubrooms and improving our facilities.

"Our goal is to become a strong presence in Australian rowing and we are well on the way to achieving this."

Notable achievements by AUBC members in the 2004/05 season include:

• three representatives in national teams: Marguarite Houston (lightweight double sculls), Chris Morgan (men's quad sculls), Matt Bolt (junior men's double scull),
  
• winning six events and 14 medals at the national championships;
  
• men's and women's state premiers;
  
• winning the men's and women's eights "double" at the State Championships;
  
• Amber Halliday representing Australia at the Athens Olympics and finishing fourth in the lightweight double sculls.

Story by Ben Osborne