April 2007
Releases (x6) regarding the selection of the
2007 National Rowing Teams
Tuesday 24 April 2007
South Australian’s set sights on Munich
Amber Halliday and Marguerite Houston have targeted the gold medal in the Women’s Lightweight Double Scull at the 2007 World Rowing Championships to be held in Munich.
Halliday and Houston were officially named in the Australian squad today, although their place was all but guaranteed when they received pre selection last week.
The South Australian combination won silver at last year’s World Championships in Eton, England behind the Chinese.
Houston said that she and Halliday were more determined than ever to go that one step further in Munich.
“Our first goal this year was to be selected in the Lightweight Double together for the World Championships,” Houston commented. “Now that we have achieved this we have our sights firmly set on winning the gold medal in Munich.”
Other South Australian’s to make the Australian squad include James McRae and Chris Morgan who are both part of the Men’s Scull squad.
The Australian squad leaves for Europe on May 25 and will compete in two World Cups events as a lead up to the World Rowing Championships, 26 August – 2 September 2007.
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David Polglase
Rowing Australia
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Tuesday 24 April 2007
Australian lightweights ready to perform
West Australian based athletes Sam Beltz and Tom Gibson have been selected to represent Australia in the Men’s Lightweight Double Scull at the 2007 World Rowing Championships in Munich.
Beltz and Gibson, both from Tasmania, relocated to Perth to train under Antonio Maurogiovanni and they showed their potential last year by finishing 4th in the 2006 event staged in Eton, England.
With another year of rowing under their belts, Beltz said that he and Gibson are looking forward to their prospects at this year’s world titles.
“Last year we were so close to winning a medal at the World Champs,” Beltz said. “With a further year of experience Tom and myself are confident that we can break into the medals in Munich.”
West Australians to be included in the squad include Amber Halliday, Natalie Bale, James Gatti and David Kelly.
The Australian squad leaves for Europe on May 25 and will compete in two World Cups events as a lead up to the World Rowing Championships, 26 August – 2 September 2007.
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David Polglase
Rowing Australia
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Tuesday 24 April 2007
Victorians dominate Australian men’s squad
The victorious Victorian King’s Cup crew has dominated selection for the Men’s 8 for the 2007 World Rowing Championships.
Returning 5 times Olympian James Tomkins will headline Australia’s bid for gold and he will be joined by fellow Victorians James Marburg, Cameron McKenzie – McHarg and Karsten Forsterling in the blue ribbon event for men’s rowing.
Tomkins is the only change from last year’s crew that finished one place out of the medals in Eton, England.
“It’s great to be back as part of the Australian squad,” Tomkins said. “Australian rowing is currently moving through an exciting stage and we are looking forward to the World Championships this year and, of course, Beijing in 2008.”
Reigning world champion Drew Ginn was also selected in the Men’s Pair while other Victorians selected include Kim Crow, Sarah Heard and Robyn Selby Smith.
The Australian squad leaves for Europe on May 25 and will compete in two World Cups events as a lead up to the World Rowing Championships, 26 August – 2 September 2007.
Media Contact
David Polglase
Rowing Australia
Mobile: 0401 453 041
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Tuesday 24 April 2007
Cook sets her sights on gold
ACT’s Sarah Cook has been chosen as part of the exceptionally strong Australian women’s sweep squad for the 2007 World Rowing Championships in Munich.
Cook was part of the Australian Women’s 8 that won Bronze at the 2006 World Championships.
This year the Women’s 8 are determined to better their bronze medal and Cook said the squad has been working really well as a group.
“The results at the selection trials and the nationals a month earlier empahasised the hard work we have been putting in at training,” Cook said. “We are all confident that we can turn our hard training into medals overseas.”
Cook will be joined by fellow ACT representative Sonia Mills in the Women’s squad.
The Australian squad leaves for Europe on May 25 and will compete in two World Cups events as a lead up to the World Rowing Championships, 26 August – 2 September 2007.
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David Polglase
Rowing Australia
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Tuesday 24 April 2007
Savage chosen in first Australian team
Queensland’s Pippa Savage has been named in her first Australian rowing squad following a dominant national season which has established her as Australia’s lead female sculler.
Savage will travel overseas as part of the Australian squad to contest the 2007 World Rowing Championships in Munich.
Savage, who only started rowing in 2002, said she is excited at the prospect of racing against the best in the world.
“I am really excited about having the chance to row overseas for the first time,” Savage said. “I have seen dvd’s of all the girls competing overseas and to get the opportunity to row with them will be fantastic.”
Other Queenslanders to make the squad include reigning world champion Duncan Free, rising star Sam Conrad and Sally Kehoe.
The Australian squad leaves for Europe on May 25 and will compete in two World Cups events as a lead up to the World Rowing Championships, 26 August – 2 September 2007.
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David Polglase
Rowing Australia
Mobile: 0401 453 041
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Tuesday 24 April 2007
Australia aim to remain world’s best
The Australian rowing team, currently ranked number on in the world for Olympic boats, has been named for the 2007 international season which includes the World Rowing Championships in Munich.
Notable inclusions in the 60 person strong squad include returning 5 times Olympian James Tomkins and reigning world champions Duncan Free and Drew Ginn.
The women’s squad looks exceptionally strong and will be expected to figure highly at the World Rowing Championships.
Sally Kehoe, member of the sweep squad, said that everyone was looking forward to heading overseas and racing.
“It’s great to have the national season out of the way so that we can now focus on qualifying boats for the Olympics next year,” Kehoe said. “We have all been training some pretty long hours and are looking forward to competing against the rest of the world.”
Australia will take 15 crews overseas, with 13 of them being Olympic class boats. The female single scull is the only event Australia are not attempting to qualify a boat for the Olympics.
The Australian squad leaves for Europe on May 25 and will compete in two World Cups events as a lead up to the World Rowing Championships, 26 August – 2 September 2007.
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David Polglase
Rowing Australia
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Tuesday 17 April 2007
Australian rowers smash world record
A composite crew consisting of Kate Hornsey (TAS), Robyn Selby Smith (VIC), Sally Kehoe (QLD) and Sarah Heard (VIC) has gone under the world record time in the Women’s Coxless Four at the Australian Selection Trials in Penrith.
Current world champions Hornsey and Selby Smith were joined by their AIS counterparts Heard and Kehoe to finish in a time of 6:24.37. The old mark stood at 6:25.35.
The result is an unofficial world record, as it took place during trials, but is still an incredible achievement.
Kehoe has had an impressive selection regatta so far and said that the crew worked really well as a unit.
“There were perfect conditions out on the water so we had a feeling we could record a good time,” Kehoe said. “Often when we mix boats around to find the best combination, results like this happen as everyone is pushing to be part of the squad.”
Selby Smith said it would provide all the girls with confidence going into the international season.
“It is a good race to have under our belts,” Selby Smith said. “Heardy (Sarah Heard) and I had the goal of making the 8 and this is an added bonus along the way.”
Lyall McCarthy, head coach of the Australian women’s squad, said the crew executed the race perfectly.
“The course has been fast all week and all the girls have been rowing really well,” McCarthy said. “They rowed a strong back half of the race and the result is proof of their hard work.”
The women’s squad for the international season will be named on Monday 23 April. The 2007 World Championships which are being held in Munich in August offer nations the opportunity to qualify boats for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Media Contact
David Polglase
Rowing Australia
Mobile: 0401 453 041
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Monday 16 April
Initial crews earmarked for Australian team
2006 World Champions Duncan Free (QLD) and Drew Ginn (VIC) are one step closer to defending their world title in the Men’s Pair after receiving early recommendation by the selectors.
Having won the Men’s Pair event at the Australian Rowing Championships in March, the duo combined to claim the race at the Selection Trials last Saturday.
They have been nominated for selection along with both the Men’s and Women’s Lightweight Double crews of Sam Beltz (TAS) and Tom Gibson (TAS), and Amber Halliday (SA) and Marguerite Houston (SA).
Dominic Monypenny (TAS) has also been pre selected for the Adaptive Men’s Single Scull while Kathryn Ross (VIC) and John McLean (NSW) will partner each other in the Adaptive Double Scull.
The selectors will now focus their attention on other athletes vying for places on the Australian team. The selectors will then finalise their selections for each squad before the Rowing Australia board endorses their recommendations and announces the team on Monday 23 April.
Media Contact
David Polglase
Rowing Australia
Mobile: 0401 453 041
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Monday 16 April
Rowers shine again as selection looms closer
Sunday marked the final day of racing at the Australian Selection Trials. Rowers will now begin a seat rotation system in order to find the best combinations ahead of the team being named on Monday 23 April.
In the Women’s Double Scull, Pippa Savage (QLD) and Kerry Hore (TAS) won comfortably from Amber Bradley (WA) and Catriona Sens (VIC) in a time of 6:57.51.
David Crawshay (VIC) and Chris Morgan (SA) combined well in the Men’s Double Scull to win in a time of 6:23.75 from the West Australian combination of James Gatti and David Kelly.
Sally Kehoe (QLD), Kate Hornsey (TAS), Sarah Cook (ACT) and Kim Crow (VIC) comfortably won the Women’s Coxless Four in a time of 6.38.83. James Marburg (VIC), Cameron McKenzie – McHarg (VIC), Sam Conrad (QLD) and James Tomkins (VIC) won the equivalent event for men in 6:03.34.
South Australians Amber Halliday and Marguerite Houston won the Women’s Lightweight Double Scull to gain early recommendation for selection while the Tasmanian crew of Sam Beltz and Tom Gibson also were nominated for selection after winning the Men’s Lightweight Double Scull.
Media Contact
David Polglase
Rowing Australia
Mobile: 0401 453 041
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Saturday 14 April
Boilover with Australian champions upset in pair
Sally Kehoe (QLD) and Kate Hornsey (TAS) produced a great race to topple the Australian Champions, Kim Crow (VIC) and Sarah Cook (ACT), the final of the Women’s Pair at the Australian Selection Trials.
Kehoe and Hornsey crossed the line in a time of 7:12.08 to win by a boat from Cook and Crow with the Victorian pair of Robyn Selby Smith and Sarah Heard coming home in 3rd.
Hornsey said it was a great relief to cross the line in 1st.
“It’s a great feeling but more of a relief than anything,” said Hornsey. “It sets up the rest of the week really well now.”
Kehoe was equally happy with the race and said that it fell into place exactly as planned.
“The race went to plan and we executed the 2000m really well,” Kehoe said. “We have worked extremely hard since nationals with the goal of winning this event and to pull out this performance makes it all worthwhile.”
West Australians Sally Robbins and Joanna Lutz finished in 5th place.
In the Women’s Lightweight Single Scull South Australian’s Amber Halliday and Marguerite Houston fought all the way to the finish before Halliday won by just over a second in a time of 7:50.67. The two will combine in the Lightweight Double Scull on Sunday to stake their claim for selection in the Australian team.
Media Contact
David Polglase
Rowing Australia
Mobile: 0401 453 041
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Saturday 14 April
World Champions close in on selection
Duncan Free (QLD) and Drew Ginn (VIC) have all but booked their seat at the 2007 World Championships after claiming the final of the Men’s Pair at the Australian Selection Trials.
Free and Ginn, who won in a time of 6:32.76, held off the challenge from James Tomkins (VIC) and Sam Conrad (QLD) to win by half a boat, with Victorians James Marburg and Cameron McKenzie – McHarg finishing in 3rd.
Ginn said that he and Free were improving with every performance.
“We seem to have a strung a few good performances together now,” Ginn said. “There was a good fight on between the two boats behind us so our plan was to get some clear water.”
Ginn went on to compliment the performance of Tomkins and Conrad.
“James still thinks he is the fittest 41 year old going around.”
Tasmania’s Sam Beltz continued on from his strong results at the Australian Rowing Championships by claiming the final of the Men’s Lightweight Single Scull in an impressive time of 7:04.18. He won ahead of fellow Tasmanian Tom Gibson and West Australian Todd Skipworth.
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David Polglase
Rowing Australia
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Saturday 14 April
Australia’s best perform on cue
Queensland’s Pippa Savage lived up to her billing today as she took out the Women’s Single Scull at the Australian Selection Trials at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.
Under perfect conditions at the Olympic course, Savage completed the race in a time of 7:32.08 Savage beat home Tasmania’s Kerry Hore and Western Australia’s Amber Bradley by two boat lengths.
The win underlines Savage’s bid to make the Senior A Australian team for the first time and is another stepping stone in her impressive season to date.
With the selection process involving the scullers being ranked after the conclusion of the Single Scull, Savage will now team up with Hore to compete in the Women’s Double Scull. The duo will be looking to form a successful partnership once again after claiming gold together at the Australian Rowing Championships in March.
“There will be some great combinations in the Double but Kerry and I have formed a pretty good partnership so far,” said Savage. “It is a relief to get the Single out of the way but I am looking forward to the rest of the week now.”
David Crawshay (VIC) underlined his status as Australia’s foremost men’s sculler after claiming the final by two boat lengths from South Australia’s Chris Morgan. David Kelly (WA) claimed 3rd in a blanket finish with three other rowers.
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David Polglase
Rowing Australia
Mobile: 0401 453 041
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Friday 13 April
Savage surges into final
Queensland’s Pippa Savage surged into the final of the Women’s Single Scull by winning her semi final by two boat lengths at the Australian Selection Trials at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.
Savage, who is looking to make her first Australian team, said she is looking forward to the final tomorrow and the potential of Australian selection.
“I am really excited at the prospect of getting my first Australian uniform”, Savage said. “But the final will be a really tough race especially with Kez (Kerry Hore) and Amber (Bradley) rowing so well at the moment.”
Savage will lead a quality field on Saturday morning and will be pressed by Kerry Hore (TAS), Amber Bradley (WA) and Brooke Pratley (NSW).
David Crawshay, Australian Champion in the Men’s Single Scull, won his semi final with a time of 7:02.17. Crawshay will be looking to hold off the challenge from James McRae, Chris Morgan and Peter Hardcastle to reinforce his position as Australia’s number one sculler.
The finals for the single sculls will begin at 8.30 tomorrow morning.
Media Contact
David Polglase
Rowing Australia
Mobile: 0401 453 041
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Friday 13 April
Men’s Pair favourites cruise into semis
2006 World Champions Duncan Free (QLD) and Drew Ginn (VIC) cruised into the semi finals of the Men’s Pair at the Australian Selection Trials.
Ginn and Free will be joined by Sam Conrad (QLD) and James Tomkins (VIC) who also impressed in the morning session.
The two crews will face off against each other in the semi finals this afternoon.
In the Women’s Pair, Sarah Cook (ACT) and Kim Crow (VIC) showed their class by finishing a couple of bat lengths clear of their nearest rivals. They will be joined by Sally Kehoe (QLD) and Kate Hornsey (TAS), and Natalie Bale (WA) and Vicky Roberts (ACT) in the semi finals.
Victorians’ Robyn Selby Smith and Sarah Heard, who claimed Silver at the Australian Rowing Championships, caught a crab 300 metres from the finish but did enough to qualify for the semi finals.
Media Contact
David Polglase
Rowing Australia
Mobile: 0401 453 041
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Friday 13 April
National champions face stiff competition
Kim Crow (VIC) and Sarah Cook (ACT), the newly crowned Australian champions in the Women’s Pair, won their semi final this afternoon at the Australian Selection Trials at Penrith.
Crow and Cook, who finished in a time of 7.23.41, will face a battle to win the final, however, with Sally Kehoe (QLD) and Kate Hornsey (TAS) setting the fastest time after winning the second semi final. They clocked a time of 7.23.24.
Cook said the final tomorrow will present a tough challenge.
“All the pairs are racing really well at the moment,” Cook said. “We will be confident going into the race so hopefully we can put together a good race.”
The West Australian duo of Sally Robbins and Joanna Lutz also made the final after finishing 3rd in their semi final. Natalie Bale (WA) and Victoria Roberts (NSW) will also challenge for the title.
In the Men’s Pair world champions Duncan Free and Drew Ginn cruised into the final after winning their semi final with a time of 6:35.28. All eyes will be on James Tomkins (VIC) and Sam Conrad (QLD) who will be looking to improve on their 4th place finish at the national championships in March.
The finals of the pairs will be held tomorrow starting at 9.20am.
Media Contact
David Polglase
Rowing Australia
Mobile: 0401 453 041
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Friday 13 April
Perfect conditions greet selection trials
The Australian Selection Trials began this morning at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.
Under perfect conditions the Men’s and Women’s Single Scull heats went as planned with all the favourites making it through to the semi finals.
Queensland’s Pippa Savage continued her impressive recent form by winning her heat, with Kerry Hore (TAS) and Amber Bradley (WA) claiming the other two heats. Hore posted the quickest time, completing the course in 7.44.00.
2007 Australian Champion David Crawshay comfortably won his heat in the corresponding men’s event with a time of 7:02.59.
Heats for the small boats will continue throughout the morning before the semi finals are held this afternoon.
Media Contact
David Polglase
Rowing Australia
Mobile: 0401 453 041
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March 2007
2007 Australian Rowing Championships
— Click here — for all media releases from the 2007 Australian Rowing Championships, held from March 5 to 11 at Nagambie Lakes, Vic..
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February 2007
Wednesday 21 February
Records tumble as rowers prepare for National Championships
Entries closed for the 2007 Australian Rowing Championships yesterday with over 1500 rowers entering the regatta.
With many entrants participating in more than one event, over 3400 seats have been filled for the week long event.
55 girls have entered the School Girls Single Scull discipline which is a new record. There were also 55 entries received for the U19 Men’s Single Scull.
The increase in numbers can be attributed to the joint AIS and Rowing Australia program Breaking the Drought. The program is seeking to develop young rowers who have the potential to become Olympic Champions at the London Olympic Games in 2012.
Sykes Racing is sponsoring the program and has offered a single scull boat to both the Boy’s and Girl’s Single Scull Champion at the Australian Rowing Championships.
The Australian Rowing Championships are being held at Nagambie Lakes, Victoria between 5–11 March.
For more information please visit www.rowingaustralia.com.au or call David Polglase on
(02) 6273 0232 or 0401 453 041.
