Rowers strike gold

NSWIS rowers Erik Horrie and Kathryn Ross have become the Institute’s latest world champions after two excellent performances at the 2013 World Rowing Championships in Korea.

Horrie, not far removed from a silver medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games, powered home in the arms and shoulders men’s single scull to claim his maiden world title just two years after taking up the sport.

The newly crowned world champion blitzed the field and finished seven seconds ahead of his nearest competitor to claim gold.

Fellow NSWIS athlete Ross, a Paralympic silver medallist from the 2008 Beijing Games, joined compatriot Gavin Bellis in the trunk and arms mixed double scull to also claim her maiden world championship crown.

Ross and Bellis made their move around the halfway mark of the race before storming home ahead of France to take gold.

There was added medal success at the world championships for a further two NSWIS athletes, Spencer Turrin and Alex Lloyd.

Competing in the men’s four, the NSWIS duo joined experienced compatriots Will Lockwood and Joshua Dunkley-Smith to take silver in the event. The Australians led through the 1500m mark before a charge from the Netherlands saw Turrin and Lloyd into silver.

Fellow NSWIS athlete Tess Gerrand was also in the mix for medals a member of the Australian women’s eight crew before finishing fifth overall.