Fergus Pragnell accepts that it is rare rowers get to race before a large crowd. Almost certainly, they are unaccustomed to racing in coxed eights, over a lumpy 4.3 kilometre course and into the heart of Sydney's Darling Harbour at a speed of 10 knots.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
So when the chance came, as it did on Sunday for Pragnell, 29, and his crew from Sydney University and arch-rivals from Melbourne University in the Australian Boat Race, there was only one way to make best of the memory – to stroke his boat to victory.
The Australian Boat Race, an annual clash between the two universities with a men's and women's race, alternates venues every year.
After Sydney University lost the men's race on the Yarra River in Melbourne last year, their victory by 13 seconds on a course that took them from Woolwich Pier to Darling Harbour to bring back the Edmund Barton Trophy to Sydney on Sunday was superb.
It was not just Sydney University's day, though, as Melbourne University won the women's race that was held earlier in the morning in typically emphatic fashion. Starting in the northern lane, Melbourne University raced out of the blocks and soon gained five lengths' lead and won by 33 seconds to retain the Bella Guerin Trophy.
After the men's race, Pragnell admitted that after surviving the early lumpy waters, the flatter row into Darling Harbour still offered up a variety of fresh distractions.
Those were not only the harbourside landmarks but the noise of a helicopter above and a spectator fleet of crowded ferries and speedboats that numbered up to 18. "You're coming past the submarine and the big ship and under [Pyrmont] Bridge," said Pragnell, who crewed for NSW in their past seven King's Cup wins – the past two as stroke – and in this year's Australian world title bronze medal-winning coxless four. "You don't often get big crowds at rowing events, but here we could hear the cheering, the helicopter above and the ferries behind. You are trying to stay focused in the race, but you know it's a pretty special event."
Pragnell, who has his sights on the 2016 Olympics in Rio after being the team reserve at the 2012 Games, relished Sunday's success on home water. His crew quickly caught and passed Melbourne University after starting in the southern lane, and then soon gained a one-length lead before extending it to win.
"We had a pretty good start," he said. "We were happy for that and made it easier for us, to be able to sit there and look at the Melbourne crew for most of the race."
