Interviews
Interview with Cameron McKenzie-McHarg
Saturday 19 June
1. Great race today. It would have been a bit of a strange feeling lining up next to two other Australian crews?
It was a bit strange lining up with 3 Aussie crews in the race, it created a bit of confusion for the officials trying to work out what crew was what. It's great to see the depth of the Australian mens sweep squad continue to strengthen and it is certainly a realistic proposition that in the coming years we will have medal crews in the mens pair, four and eight.
2. There have been some pretty challenging conditions so far this week. How does that change any race plans or how you approach the race?
We fly to the other side of the globe for some international racing, but we also look forward to some warmer weather. Munich has served up every shade of winter over the week, rain, head breeze, tail breeze, more rain. The conditions don't significantly change the approach to racing, but we might adjust the warm up routine. We have heard the conditions at New Zealands World Champs course can be pretty challenging so this is probably the perfect preparation.
3. This is your third season together in the men's four. Do you all have a sense of unfinished business with your two silver medals so far?
We definitely feel the combination has not reached its potential, and we are continuing to try and find the areas that will turn those silvers into gold. The combination certainly has a very good dynamic, and its now just a matter of getting more international racing experience under our belt so we know how to consistently win races at the international level.
4. Your first two races are now out of the way and you can look forward to the final. Where do you see the danger lying in the final?
The most obvious threat is the current World Champions GB, who again have demonstrated they have consistent speed. USA also have a new line up this season that have shown good opening form. However, its the other Australian four that have shown the best speed so far over the weekend. We feel like we are well placed for a great hit out tomorrow and expect to be fighting for the win.
5. After the final tomorrow you have a two week training camp in Varese. You have had a few camps there now. What is it like having an AIS camp in the middle of Europe?
Varese is one of those places I enjoy going back to year after year. Great rowing conditions, great food, great coffee, the Italians certinaly know how to do a few things exceptionally well. The camp will provide a good opportunity to lock into some solid training and make some improvements to our speed. We get the chance to see if it has all worked at the final World Cup at Lucerne in July.
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Interview with David Crawshay
Saturday 19 June
1. Well done on the race today. Your back half of the races are really coming off at the moment. You must be happy with this?
Thanks, but it's not really by design! We've been starting fairly well, but if we could get out a bit faster that would be better.
2. The crew has changed slightly from last year's world championships. Is the feeling in the boat still feeling pretty good though?
The feeling in the boat is good. We had a great fighting crew with real 'goers' last year. This year brings a bit more experience, but the 'fight' is still there. The reality, though, is that there is a bunch of six or eight guys who are all up to the task of rowing the quad.
3. The final promises to be pretty tight. Where do you expect the main challenges to come from?
We've consciously tried to avoid focussing on or discounting any particular crew. All crews have made the final for a reason; all have displayed good character to get there. As for challenges, all six crews have the potential to get up on their day - from the experience of the Poles to the youth of Croatia. Where do we fit in? We'll find out tomorrow.
4. Outside of the men's quad scull boat, there must be a pretty good feeling in the camp with six crews making it through to the A Final?
The A-Finallists can all be extremely happy with their achievement. Looking through the results, there are many Olympic and World Championship medallists who failed to clear the semi-final hurdle, so you must always derive a great deal of satisfaction from making an A-final ... and then quickly get onto the job at hand! The women's singles performed superbly to book their places; the men's fours all did well, with two making it to the top flight; and the men's lightweight crews acquitted themselves very well, with one making it through. But the truth is that there are other efforts that need singling out, among them the men's and women's pairs (Mother Tait returning to the action!), the women's lighties who are mixing it with the heavies in the open double division, Huddo who won his final today, and the men's double who had a better row today to be competitive in a very hot field. All bodes well for a productive few weeks in Varese.
5. Were there any goals coming into the first international regatta of the season?
We didn't talk about too many outcome goals leading in. Just off the plane, I suppose we were keen to continue the good run of training we'd enjoyed in Tassie, so techincal goals are front and centre. We expect some really solid sessions in Varese before Lucerne and another measure of where we stand.
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Interview with Sarah Tait
Thursday 17 June
1. Welcome back into the Australian fold after a year out of the boat. How does it feel to be back?
Thanks, it's great to be back. I don't think I have ever been as excited about an overseas tour than I was when we left to come over here. It's really nice to start to get to know some of the newer members of the team too.
2. A lot can happen in one year. Talk us through your last year and the exciting addition to your family?
The last year has been a very hectic and exciting one for the Tait Family. Bill and I welcomed our daughter Leila into the family ten months ago. She has been such a highlight for us. People say that rowing at a high level forces you to organise your life... this is certainly true when doing it with a newborn baby! My goal for this year was to get to a level of fitness to race at the National Championships, so I am really happy to have achieved that and more.
3. The last five weeks has been quite an extensive training block. How do you feel heading into World Cup 2?
I am feeling really positive heading into the World Cup. The last five weeks of training have been the best block of training I can remember- no injuries, no illness, near perfect conditions for every session, and a lot of hard work! I'll be interested to see how pregnancy and childbirth have changed my mental and physical approach to international racing.
4. This is your fifth Australian Senior A team, but the first time you have been in the pair since you won silver in 2005 in Gifu. Is it nice being back in a smaller boat after a couple of seasons in the women’s eight?
Yes, I love racing the pair. Rowing in the eight is also a great experience and challenge, but I really believe you can't beat the feeling of a pair that is running well. We are lucky that we get to race pairs domestically every year.
5. Do you and your pair partner, Sarah Cook, have any goals heading into World Cup 2, and who do you see as the favourites in Munich in the women’s pair?
We haven't spoken too much about results based goals, our whole focus has been getting the rhythm and length perfect to get our best performance. We do not know a whole lot about our competitors here. The gold and bronze medallists from World Cup 1 (CAN,USA) are not competing here in Munich, so China (who were the silver medallists) will be a great gauge for us. We would also expect the Romanian and the New Zealand pairs to be crews to keep an eye on (from in front of course!).
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Interview with Joshua Dunkley Smith
Wednesday 16 June
1. Firstly, congratulations on being named for your first World Cup tour. It has been a whirlwind 12 months for you after being drafted into the 2009 World Championships team following an injury in the men’s eight crew. Are you looking forward to your first World Cup race?
Thanks very much, it’s been an interesting 12 months. It’s been a lot of hard work and a little luck as well, but I’m enjoying it. I feel privileged to have seen the entire program from youth to senior A in a short period. I've met a lot of great people. I am looking forward to the World Cups as I think it will give me a chance to get a few more races against international competitors without the weight of a championship regatta. Also it means I can see more courses around Europe. I am especially looking forward to Lucerne, having heard it's one of the most beautiful rowing courses in the world.
2. You have a busy program at World Cup 2 as you are racing in a coxless four, as well as the men’s eight. How are you preparing for such a heavy workload?
We were originally intending to race both the 8+ and the 4-, however a few more entries in the 8+ meant that it was no longer a first and final so we scrapped that. We are still training both though and at this stage I think we are still entered in the 500m dash for cash in the 8+ after the world cup racing is finished. It’s an interesting challenge training two different classes at the same time but I feel as though it is only improving our performances in both. I’m making sure to eat and drink plenty as the intensity increases. I feel a little extra weight gives me some durability and keeps me well. I don’t want to get sick with so much travelling like I did last year.
3. Is there a good feeling amongst the Australian camp at the moment ahead of this weekend?
The Australian Team is always a good place to be. When we get the chance to come together the different crews are pretty close despite some friendly joking. Even after 24 hours in a small tin can everyone manages to keep reasonably relaxed. The men’s 8+ squad is travelling well at the moment. We make improvements every row and I think judging from our results the other crews seem to be rolling along alright too.
4. Great Britain once again showed their strength at World Cup 1, and are the World Cup leaders heading into Munich. Have you been following their progress, as well as the other leading countries?
We try to stay focused on our own goals while being aware of what other nations are up to. Some of the crew lists are open to change between now and New Zealand so I try not to read too much into things ahead of time, if we can make our boat faster then that is good. All we can do is improve on our weaknesses and use our strengths effectively. Also no Australian crews besides our adaptive rowers raced at the first world cup, so I think GB got an easy run!
5. Following the World Cup tour you are also going off to race at the Under 23 World Championships in the coxless four. Is this just to get some extra racing?
Under 23 worlds is a good opportunity for extra racing of course but with only one change from the world cup 4- to the under 23 4- in Dom Grimm, we would like to bring some medals home as well. Given the length of our stay and the racing we are doing prior to U23's, we will have a lighter run into U23's. I think the four of us can also take some leadership in the U23 team and encourage the other crews.
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