KUCHING – Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus ended its two-year winning drought when it took home the Inter-IPT Kenyalang Boat championship trophy in the Sarawak Regatta, recently.
The mostly first-year degree and foundation students who dubbed themselves “Swinburne Pirates” proved that inexperience is not necessarily a hindrance to winning the trophy.
The team found themselves pitted against more experienced teams in the institution of higher education men’s category but the mostly untested rowers emerged victorious, beating their closest rival with a 20-second lead.
The Malaysian and international students including three university staff had started preparation as early as March, said its team captain.
“The team faced many challenges this year,” said Linus Chin. “Many of the members who took part in previous year’s races have graduated, leaving us with a handful of ‘senior rowers’, some of whom had to pull out due to class schedules.”
This forced the team to improvise in their training but the upside was that it had a group of highly enthusiastic first-year degree students with something to prove.
“The veterans who stayed on were also eager to take the championship title for the university before they graduate,” said Linus.
The “Swinburne Pirates” first rowed their way to the Fair Play Trophy in 2010 for being the most multicultural team, good sportsmanship and team spirit, and for being well-organised.
The Sarawak Regatta is held annually as part of Malaysia’s National Day celebration. This year more than 20 local and international teams including those from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, The Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan, competed.