-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-

GEELONG - Sykes Racing is proud to be sponsoring the Under 23 and Junior Australian Rowing Teams by generously supplying a fleet of thirteen rowing boats for the teams to use in international competition over the next four years.  The fleet of boats valued at over $300K have been supplied at no cost and have just been loaded in a container bound for Europe.

The Under 23 and Junior Australian Rowing Teams compete in age based competition and is an important stepping stone for many athletes into Senior World Championships and the London Olympics in 2012.  “This direct support will assist in the development of our future elite champions and ensure our teams are equipped with the latest and best available standard of equipment” - Jeff Lawrence, Managing Director, Sykes Racing.

Andrew Matheson, National High Performance Director at the National Rowing Centre of Excellence commented that the sponsorship was a significant step forward in the underpinning of our National crews. “Not many countries in the world can boast this form of arrangement with their national manufacturers”.

“Sykes Racing has returned a substantial amount of company profits back into rowing at many levels.  Our commitment to the sport of rowing is often not visible to young athletes.  With this direct sponsorship to the teams - which are not fully funded by the National Body or Olympic program – over the next four years many young athletes will directly reap the benefits of this initiative” – Stuart Wilson, General Manager, Sykes Racing.

Sykes Racing boats are designed and manufactured entirely in Australia using the latest technology and finest carbon mouldings and materials.  Sykes Racing, based in Geelong, employs over 40 staff at a new Breakwater manufacturing centre across a number of areas including composites, boat building, metal fabrication and administration.

ABOUT SYKES RACING - Sykes Racing is a renowned manufacturer of rowing boats.  Founded in 1966, all of our boats are manufactured at our state of the art production facility in Geelong, Breakwater.  Approximately 80% of the Australian Rowing Community use Sykes boats and associated equipment.  In addition to the local market, we also export our boats overseas to North America, Japan and New Zealand.

-RELEASE ENDS-