Wednesday 16 March
Olympic gold medallists on track for Australian selection
Olympic gold medallists Drew Ginn (VIC) and Scott Brennan (TAS) are one step closer to returning to the Australian Rowing Team after being invited to contest the 2011 National Selection Trials next month in Sydney.
Ginn and Brennan have not rowed for Australia since the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, when Ginn claimed gold with Duncan Free (QLD) in the men’s pair, and Brennan combined with David Crawshay (VIC) to win gold in the men’s double scull.
The pair burst back onto the national scene last week at the 2011 Australian Rowing Championships with Ginn winning the men’s pair and men’s four, while Brennan teamed with Crawshay to win the men’s double scull.
Ginn and Brennan headline the 70 athletes that will contest selection for the Australian team to compete at the 2011 World Rowing Championships in Bled, Slovenia from 28 August – 4 September this year.
32 members of crews that competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games will battle for selection, as national selectors begin to formulate the backbone of their crews for London next year.
The women’s sculling group feature a strong mix of talent with Olympians Sally Kehoe (QLD), Kerry Hore (TAS), Pippa Savage (QLD), Kim Crow (TAS), Sarah Cook (ACT), Brooke Pratley (NSW) and Amy Ives (NSW) all contesting selection.
Dual Olympian Sarah Tait (VIC) and Phoebe Stanley (VIC) remain well positioned to stay as the women’s pair for 2011 after their fourth place finish at the 2010 World Rowing Championships, but will face stiff competition from Pauline Frasca (VIC) and Kate Hornsey (TAS).
In the lightweight categories 16 men have been selected to trial, including all members of the men’s lightweight four and lightweight eight that won silver medals at last year’s World Championships. Hannah Every-Hall (QLD) and Alice McNamara (VIC) headline the women’s lightweight scullers and will aim to continue their success from 2010.
In the Paralympic boat classes, Ben Houlison (NSW) faces a challenge from Eric Horrie (QLD) to hold onto his position in the arms only men’s single scull, while 2008 Beijing Paralympian John Maclean (NSW) returns to the fold as he contests selection in the trunk and arms mixed double scull.
Rowing Australia National High Performance Director Andrew Matheson said there were a number of impressive performances at the national titles.
“Across the week of racing we saw a lot of Olympic hopefuls show the selectors what they are capable of,” Matheson said. “A fair portion of the team that competed in Beijing is back in contention for London now, but we have seen the talent pool grow in the past two seasons and there is some good rivalry for seat positions now.
“2011 is obviously a very important year in relation to our success next year in London and we want to start forming the nucleus of our crews now. I expect there will be some pretty fierce racing and trialling in Sydney next month.”
The 2011 National Selection Trials will be held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre from April 15–24 at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.
The 2011 World Rowing Championships serves as the major qualification regatta for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Media contact
David Polglase 0401 453 041
Senior A Selection Trial Invitation List
Men’s Sculling
David Crawshay, VIC – Mercantile/VIS/AIS
James McRae, SA – Murray Bridge/SASI
Chris Morgan, SA – Adelaide Uni/SASI
Daniel Noonan, NSW – Mosman/NSWIS
Scott Brennan, TAS – Lindisfarne/TIS/AIS
Karsten Forsterling, VIC – Melbourne Uni/VIS
Jared Bidwell, QLD – Uni of QLD/QAS/AIS
Nicholas Hudson, NSW – Sydney Uni/NSWIS/AIS
Men’s Sweep
Drew Ginn, VIC – Mercantile/VIS
Josh Dunkley-Smith, VIC – Mercantile/VIS/AIS
Sam Loch, NSW – Sydney Uni/NSWIS/AIS
Nick Purnell, NSW – Sydney Uni/NSWIS/AIS
Tom Larkins, VIC – MUBC/VIS
Fergus Pragnell, NSW – Sydney Uni/NSWIS/AIS
Matt Ryan, NSW – Sydney Uni/NSWIS/AIS
Duncan Free, QLD – Uni of Queensland/QAS
James Chapman, NSW – Sydney/NSWIS
John Linke, VIC– Melbourne Uni/VIS/AIS
Will Lockwood, VIC – Mercantile/VIS/AIS
Francis Hegerty, NSW – Sydney Uni/NSWIS/VIS
Josh Booth, VIC – Melbourne Uni/VIS
Cameron McKenzie-McHarg, VIC – Melbourne Uni/VIS
James Marburg, VIC – Melbourne Uni/VIS
Bryn Coudraye, SA – Adelaide/SASI/AIS
Tom Swann, VIC – Mercantile/VIS/AIS
Sam Conrad, QLD – Uni of Queensland/QAS
Men’s Lightweight Sweep
Samuel Belt,z TAS – Lindisfarne/TIS
Anthony Edwards, TAS – New Norfolk/TIS
Todd Skipworth, WA – Swan River/TIS/WAIS
Ben Cureton, WA – Swan River/WAIS
Ali Foot, TAS – Huon/TIS
Tom Gibson, TAS – Tamar/TIS
Blair Tunevitsch, TAS – Tamar/TIS
Rod Chisholm, NSW – UTS/NSWIS
Darryn Purcell, QLD – Toowong/QAS
Nick Baker, TAS – Lindisfarne/VIS
Oli Zuk, NSW – UTS
Thomas Bertrand, VIC – Mercantile/VIS
Ross Brown, WA – Swan River/WAIS
Perry Ward, WA – Swan River/WAIS
James Wilson, VIC – Mercantile
Tim McDonnell, QLD – Toowong
Coxswains
Toby Lister, NSW – Sydney Uni/AIS
David Webster, VIC – Melbourne Uni
Women’s Sculling
Kim Crow, VIC – Melbourne Uni/VIS/AIS
Kerry Hore, TAS – New Norfolk/TIS/AIS
Sally Kehoe, QLD – Sydney Uni/QAS/AIS
Pippa Savage, QLD – Uni of Queensland
Sarah Cook, ACT – Sydney Uni/ACTAS/AIS
Amy Ives, NSW – Mosman/NSWIS
Robyn Selby Smith, VIC – Mercantile/VIS
Brooke Pratley, NSW – Sydney University/NSWIS
Women’s Sweep
Phoebe Stanley, VIC – Melbourne Uni/VIS
Sarah Tait, VIC – Mercantile/VIS
Pauline Frasca, VIC – Mercantile/VIS
Kate Hornsey, TAS – Mercantile/VIS
Sophie Robson, VIC – Melbourne Uni
Emma McCarthy, VIC – Melbourne Uni
Women’s Lightweight
Hannah Every-Hall, QLD – Dutton Park/QAS
Alice McNamara, VIC – Melbourne Uni/VIS
Ella Flecker, TAS – Huon
Maia Simmonds, WA – UWABC
Alexandra Hayes, WA – ANA
Sarah Perkins, VIC – Corio Bay
Kylie Duff, NSW – Sydney Uni
Adaptive
Ben Houlison, NSW – Lakes Rowers/AIS
Eric Horrie, QLD – Dragons
Kathryn Ross, VIC – Lakes Rowers/AIS
Grant Bailey, NSW – Lakes Rowers/AIS
John Maclean, NSW – Lakes Rowers
Friday 4 to Sunday 13 March
RA media releases during
Australian Rowing Championships
See here for all releases.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
Sunday 20 February
New South Wales and Victoria set to lock horns in King’s Cup
Fierce interstate rowing rivals Victoria and New South Wales have been drawn in neighbouring lanes for the King’s Cup at the 2011 Australian Rowing Championships and Interstate Regatta.
New South Wales drew Lane 6 and Victoria was placed in Lane 7 this afternoon as the official draw was held at the West Lakes rowing venue in Adelaide that will host the regatta from March 7–13.
New South Wales, who have won the past three King’s Cups, will enter the race as firm favourites once again, boasting a crew made up entirely of Australian representative rowers.
Current Australian men’s eight cox swain Toby Lister will guide the crew that is stroked by Daniel Noonan and also features Fergus Pragnell, Matt Ryan, Nick Purnell, Brodie Buckland, Francis Hegerty, Sam Loch and James Chapman.
Victoria however will be eager to wrestle back the trophy that they virtually owned for the two decades prior to New South Wales’ current streak, and will be aided by the return of Drew Ginn.
Ginn, a triple Olympic Gold medallist, will join the star studded crew that also contains David Crawshay, Josh Dunkley Smith, Josh Booth, Cameron McKenzie-McHarg, James Marburg, John Linke, Karsten Forsterling and cox David Webster.
New South Wales cox Toby Lister, who has featured in the past two King’s Cup victories, said it will add to the spectacle being drawn alongside Victoria.
“It’s a positive getting drawn next to Victoria as we will be able to really judge our race off them,” Lister said. “They have a really good crew this year and are obviously strengthened by the return of Drew (Ginn) who will add a lot of experience and technique to the boat.”
Lister said that there is a good feeling in the NSW camp.
“We’ve spoken to a small degree about winning our fourth in a row but we have to follow the process still and concentrate on how we row. It’s going to be really tough.
“There has been a buzz amongst the group and that flows right through every crew in the state. We have built a really strong core in our King’s Cup squad and everyone bar one has featured in a King’s Cup victory.”
The King’s Cup will be the last race on the program and will be held at 1.45pm (South Australia time) on Sunday 13 March.
King’s Cup Lane Draw
Lane 1 South Australia
Lane 2 Western Australia
Lane 3 Queensland
Lane 4 Tasmania
Lane 5 Australian Capital Territory
Lane 6 New South Wales
Lane 7 Victoria
Media contact
David Polglase, 0401 453 041
Monday 14 February
Olympian Hore claims double at NSW Championships
2004 Athens Olympic bronze medallist Kerry Hore (TAS) continued her excellent run of form over the weekend as she won the women’s single scull and women’s double scull titles at the 2011 NSW State Rowing Championships.
Hore, who rows out of the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, started her regatta with a strong performance in the women’s single scull, winning against a quality field.
The Tasmanian burst out of the start in the final to establish a lead after the first 500m and held her advantage for the whole course to win in a time of 7:39.56.
Hore won by just under a boat length from fellow AIS rower, Kim Crow (VIC), with Brooke Pratley (NSW) in third place.
Hore then combined with Crow to win the women’s double scull title in a time of 7:19.86. The 2010 World Championship silver medallist crew had too much power for Sarah Cook (ACT) and Brooke Pratley (NSW), who finished 5.5 seconds behind in second place, while Robyn Selby Smith (VIC) and Amy Ives (NSW) were third.
Sarah Tait (VIC) and Phoebe Stanley (VIC), who finished fourth at the 2010 World Championships in the women’s pair, had no trouble taking the NSW state title in a time of 7:26.03, while the pair then combined with Pauline Frasca (VIC) and Kate Hornsey (TAS) to win the women’s four.
In the men’s pair, three times Olympic gold medallist, Drew Ginn (VIC), won a thrilling final with new partner Joshua Dunkley Smith (VIC) in a time of 6:41.05.
In a quality packed field featuring a bevy of Olympians and world championship representatives, Ginn and Dunkley Smith were in sixth place through 500m before surging through the field to hit the lead in the third 500m and held off Sam Loch (NSW) and Nicholas Purnell (NSW) in a gripping finale.
2008 Beijing Olympians Sam Conrad (QLD) and Duncan Free (QLD) were scratched shortly before the race as Conrad failed to recover from a bout of the flu.
Chris Morgan (SA) claimed the final of the men’s single scull, while he then combined with David Crawshay (VIC) to also take the final of the men’s double scull.
Athletes will now turn their attentions to the 2011 Australian Rowing Championships which will be held at West Lakes in Adelaide from March 7–13.
Media contact
David Polglase, 0401 453 041
Thursday 10 February
Gold medallists line up as selectors look to London
Australia’s top rowers will look to strike an early blow in the 2011 selection battle as they take to the water in the New South Wales State Championships starting tomorrow at the Sydney International Regatta Centre.
The regatta offers the competitive returns of a number of Olympians, with 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medallists Drew Ginn (VIC) and Scott Brennan (TAS) both available for selection in 2011.
Triple Olympic gold medallist Ginn will partner Joshua Dunkley Smith (VIC) in the men’s pair, and also row in a men’s four, while Brennan will row in the men’s single scull and then combine with Karsten Forsterling (VIC) in the men’s double scull.
Rowing Australia National High Performance Director Andrew Matheson said the return of more Olympians to the program is a massive boost.
“We made great steps forward in 2010 and won eight medals at the World Championships, but the return of guys of the calibre of Scott and Drew is always welcomed,” Matheson said.
“When you throw in the return of Sam Conrad and Duncan Free coming back across to the sweep program it will create a good battle for places in the men’s four, eight and pair. We are just going to have to look closely at which of these boats gains priority.”
The men’s single and double scull promises some tight racing over the weekend with no fewer than eight rowers set to challenge for medals.
Aside from Brennan and Forsterling, David Crawshay (VIC) will row with Chris Morgan (SA), Jared Bidwell (QLD) will partner Dan Noonan (NSW) and Nicholas Hudson (NSW) will row with James McRae (SA).
Kim Crow (VIC) and Kerry Hore (TAS) will look to continue their strong combination in the women’s double scull after winning the silver medal at the 2010 World Rowing Championships. Their main competition will come from Sally Kehoe (QLD) and Brooke Pratley (NSW).
In the women’s pair dual Olympian Sarah Tait (VIC) will race with Phoebe Stanley (VIC), while Pauline Frasca will row with Kate Hornsey (TAS).
The NSW State Championships will provide all aspiring Australian team members with a good warm up regatta ahead of the 2011 Australian Rowing Championships in Adelaide from March 7–13.
Media contact
David Polglase, 0401 453 041
Friday 4 February
Rowing Australia benefits from new funding boost
Rowing Australia CEO Andrew Dee says Rowing Australia will benefit from the Federal Government’s new funding boost ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Minister for Sport Mark Arbib yesterday announced a $2.5 million funding boost under the Government’s Green and Gold Project, with rowing one of ten sports benefitting from the additional funding.
Rowing Australia received $300,000 and Dee said the extra funding would be crucial as preparations continue for London.
“Rowing Australia is delighted that the Federal Government is throwing its support behind Australia’s Olympic sporting programs and our crews will certainly benefit from this extra funding,” Dee said.
“We are in a crucial phase of our preparation for London and the next 7 months will have a vital impact on the success we can achieve in 2012.
“We are extremely grateful for the funding we receive from the Government and this additional boost will enhance our elite high performance program and assist us in achieving our goal of winning Olympic medals in London next year.”
Media contact
David Polglase, 0401 453 041
