December 2007
Sunday 9 December
Ginn named Australian Rower of the Year
Australian rower Drew Ginn has capped off a brilliant year after being recognised by his peers as the Rower’s Rower of the Year.
Ginn (VIC) won the award, which is decided on the votes taken from all other athletes who represented Australia in 2007, ahead of partner in the Men’s Pair, Duncan Free, and adaptive rower Kathryn Ross (VIC).
The award caps off an excellent year for Ginn, who along the way won his fifth world championship gold medal after a commanding victory with Duncan Free in the Men’s Pair in Munich. Ginn and Free were also awarded the prestigious 2007 FISA International Male Crew of the Year.
Ginn said that it was an honour to be recognised by his peers.
“Whenever you are recognised by your team mates it is always a special feeling”, Ginn said. “We have had a great year and we are now looking forward to Beijing next year.”
Ginn and Free were also awarded the Australian Male Crew of the Year, with the other finalists being adaptive rowers John MacLean (NSW) and Dominic Monypenny (TAS).
Amber Halliday (SA) and Marguerite Houston (SA) were awarded Australian Female Crew of the Year after their gold medal in the World Championships in the Lightweight Double Sculls. Other finalists were adaptive rower Kathryn Ross and the Women’s Lightweight Quad Scull of Tara Kelly (QLD), Bronwen Watson (NSW), Alice McNamara (VIC) and Miranda Bennett (NSW).
Full results:
| Rowers’ Rower of the Year |
Drew Ginn
|
| Male Crew of the Year |
Men’s Pair — Duncan Free and Drew Ginn
|
| Female Crew of the Year |
Women’s Lightweight Double Scull —
Amber Halliday and Marguerite Houston
|
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Friday 7 December
Tomkins winds back clock to top charts
James Tomkins and Sam Conrad have produced an excellent 5km time trial in the Men’s Pair to upstage the pre-selected Olympic duo of Drew Ginn and Duncan Free at the national time trials on the Nepean River, Penrith.
Tomkins (VIC) and Conrad (QLD), part of the Australian Men’s Eight at the 2007 World Rowing Championships, completed the course along the Nepean River in 17:21.04, some two seconds quicker than Ginn (VIC) and Free (QLD).
With the World Champion pair of Ginn and Free already confirmed as the crew to row for gold in Beijing, Tomkins has set his sights on gaining a spot in the Men’s Eight in what would be his sixth Olympic Games.
“It will be the first Olympic build up where I actually have not known which boat I am going to be rowing in at the Olympics, if selected for the team”, Tomkins said. “The selectors have now named the Eight as the priority boat over the four (Coxless Four) so that’s where all the quicker guys are getting put and I would of course like to be one of those eight.”
The Men’s Eight, despite having not qualified for the Olympics yet, will have one final chance to qualify at the Final Qualification Regatta in Poland next June. They will need to win this race to make it to Beijing.
Tasmanian Sam Beltz continued his great form in the men’s 5km single scull time trial. Beltz, Australia’s top lightweight sculler, set the quickest time for the second day in a row, once again beating the top heavyweight scullers across the line.
In the women’s pair Sally Kehoe (QLD) showed her versatility as she followed up her strong performance from Thursday in the single scull to set the quickest time with Kate Hornsey. Kehoe and Hornsey will be integral parts of the women’s squad for 2008.
With the time trials now completed, attention will turn to the 2km racing at the Sydney International Regatta Centre on the weekend. Rowing begins at 4pm on Saturday afternoon.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Thursday 6 December
Toowoomba girls steal show at national time trials
Toowoomba rowers Sally Kehoe and Pippa Savage have stolen the show on the first day of the national time trials and first selection regatta in Penrith.
All athletes participated in a 5km single scull time trial on the Nepean River in challenging conditions, as Australia’s top rowers strive for a spot on the 2008 Beijing Olympics team.
Kehoe and Savage, who both hail from the same city in Queensland, were excellent in their time trial to finish as the two highest placed athletes out of the Women’s Heavyweight group.
Australia’s top male sculler, David Crawshay (VIC), set the best time in the Men’s Heavyweight class ahead of South Australia’s Chris Morgan and Dan Noonan (NSW).
Four Tasmanians topped the charts in the Men’s Lightweight trial with Sam Beltz and Tom Gibson crossing the line in first and section positions respectively.
South Australian pair Amber Halliday and Marguerite Houston, already pre qualified for next year’s Olympic Games, performed well in the Women’s Lightweight trial.
Attention on Friday will turn to pairs racing and some further trials in the single sculls. Duncan Free and Drew Ginn, who have also been pre-selected for the team next year, will be favourites to set the quickest time.
James Tomkins (VIC) will also embark on his bid to qualify for his sixth Olympic Games as he partners Sam Conrad (QLD).
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Thursday 6 December
Olympians put through paces at selection trials
Rowing Australia’s National Time Trials and First Selection Regatta commenced this morning as 100 athletes strive for a berth in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Two Australian crews have already gained pre-selection for the Olympics, with Duncan Free and Drew Ginn to race in the Men’s Pair, and Amber Halliday and Marguerite Houston set to row for gold in the Women’s Lightweight Double Scull.
Both crews were crowned World Champions in 2007, but despite having already been selected for the 2008 team are required to attend the event.
This morning all athletes participated in a 5km single scull time trial on the Nepean River. On Friday there will be some further trials in pairs and single sculls, before relocation to the Sydney International Regatta Centre on Saturday and Sunday.
Rowing Australia High Performance Director, Noel Donaldson, says that there will be a number of fascinating head to head battles over the week.
“We had some very encouraging test results on the ergometer last week and they showed a good improvement from the same stage last year”, Donaldson said. “There will be some great competitive rowing over the next four days from our top athletes as they push for positions.”
A shadow Australian squad will be named after the final races on Sunday evening before athletes named in the squad attend a week long training camp at the AIS in Canberra.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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November 2007
Monday 26 November
World Champions edge closer to Olympic dream
Rowing Australia has named the first four athletes to be selected for the Australian Rowing Team in 2008.
Drew Ginn (VIC) and Duncan Free (QLD) have been named as the Men’s Pair, while Marguerite Houston (SA) and Amber Halliday (SA) will represent Australia in the Women’s Lightweight Double Scull.
Both of these crews, as long as they maintain their current form, will be nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee, before the AOC chooses the team to compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Ginn and Free were recently awarded the 2007 International Crew of the Year after their exceptional performance to win the 2007 World Rowing Championships. They won the final by six seconds in one of the most impressive displays in recent rowing history.
Halliday and Houston also were crowned world champions after a brilliant fight back in the final of the Women’s Lightweight Double Scull. Entering the final 500 metres of the race the Australians were a boat length behind, before overtaking the Finnish crew in the last few strokes.
Noel Donaldson, Rowing Australia High Performance Director, says the selection of these crews is an important step in the build up to the Olympic Games.
“It will allow our current world champions to focus their specific attention on the Beijing Olympic Games and their coaches to plan the most effective training methodology”, Donaldson said. “It replicates the success of early selection for our men’s pair four years ago for the Athens Olympic Games.
The Australian National Time Trials and First Selection Regatta will be held in Penrith from the 6th to the 9th of December with 80–100 rowers likely to be invited to attend.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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August 2007
2007 World Rowing Championships
26 August to 2 September
Munich, Germany
All media releases issued during the Munich World Championships can be accessed — here —
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Tuesday 7 August
Australia sweep into contention for World Championships
The Australian Rowing Team are finalising their preparations for the upcoming FISA World Rowing Championships in Munich, 26 August – 2 September.
Along with the lure of world championship medals, the regatta offers extra incentive for each nation as it serves as the main qualifying event for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
A portion of the Australian squad is already in Europe taking part in an intensive training camp, with the remainder of the team scheduled to fly out on Saturday 11 August.
Australia’s strongest medal hope will rest with current World Champions Duncan Free and Drew Ginn, who will be looking to defend the Men’s Pair title that they won last year in Eton, England.
The Women’s Eight, Four and Pair will be leading contenders for medals after a successful tour of the World Cup regattas. The group has also been extremely impressive whilst training in Penrith for the last two weeks.
After winning gold and bronze medals at two recent World Cup regattas in the Women’s Pair, Sarah Cook and Kim Crow will be looking to repeat their success in Munich, while the Women’s Eight will be aiming to replicate the gold and bronze medal they have won at the last two World Championships.
Lyall McCarthy, Australian Women’s Head Coach, says that all three crews have the potential to medal in Munich.
“Kim and Sarah obviously had two excellent results earlier in the season and will be determined to repeat their success”, McCarthy said. “We experimented with the Eight a lot when we were overseas and the girls were often racing two events a day. This will not be a problem at the World Championships and they have prepared extremely well.”
The 2007 FISA World Rowing Championships will be broadcast on www.wcsn.com. For more information please visit www.rowingaustralia.com.au or www.worldrowing.com.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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July 2007
Wednesday 25 July
Injury a Savage blow
Australian rower Pippa Savage (QLD) was today forced to withdraw from the 2007 FISA World Rowing Championships after failing to recover from injury.
Savage, who injured her hip during training ten weeks ago, had been hoping to recover in time to compete in the event to be held in Munich from 26 August – 2 September.
However, after consulting an orthopaedic surgeon in Brisbane on Monday evening, the decision was taken to operate on Savage’s hip to repair the tear in her cartilage.
Rowing Australia High Performance Director, Noel Donaldson, said that Savage’s withdrawal was disappointing given the proximity of the World Championships.
“Pip proved herself as the number one sculler in the country after winning all her events at the nationals and selections trials and was a key member of the sculling group”, Donaldson said.
“While the withdrawal is very unfortunate for Pip, being her first National Team, we can look forward to the return of Pip and Liz Kell (NSW) in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.”
Kell was World Champion in 2006 in the Double Scull and having undergone back surgery in April is well on the way to a full recovery.
Savage’s place in the Women’s Scull squad will be taken by Sonia Mills (ACT), a silver medallist in the Quadruple Sculls at the 2006 World Championships in Eton, England.
The entire Australian squad will convene for a final training camp on 12 August in Varese, Italy.
They will then travel to the World Championships in Munich which serves as a qualification regatta for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
For more information please call David Polglase on
(02) 6273 0232 or 0401 453 041
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Sunday 15 July 2007
World Champions prevail in Trans Tasman showdown
2006 World Champions Duncan Free and Drew Ginn have won the Men’s Pair at Rowing World Cup 3 in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Free and Ginn, competing in their first international event of the season, underlined their status as the world’s best by winning the final in a time of 6:27.31. They finished a boat length clear of New Zealand rivals Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater, who came home extremely strongly to push the Australian pair to the line. This was the same crew Free and Ginn beat across the line at the 2006 World Championships in Eton, England.
The French pair of Erwan Peron and Laurent Cadot crossed the line in third but Free and Ginn were always in control and deserved the victory.
Free says that he and Ginn were happy with the result but realised that they will have to step up another level before the World Championships.
“For our first international event of the season we are really pleased to come away with the win”, Free said. “We knew the New Zealanders would be tough to beat and they will come back even stronger in Munich.”
The 2007 World Championships are in Munich from August 26 – September 2 and provide each country the opportunity to qualify boats for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Australia will feature in three further A Finals tonight, with the Men’s Eight, the Men’s Lightweight Double Scull and the Women’s Quadruple Scull all looking to medal in their respective events.
For interviews with athletes please call Noel Donaldson on
0418 357 750
For more information please call David Polglase on
(02) 6273 0232 or 0401 453 041
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Sunday 15 July 2007
Oarsome Foursome continues to make waves
Former Australian rower Mike McKay has been presented with the prestigious Thomas Keller medal during World Cup 3 at Lucerne, Switzerland.
The award, named after the late president of FISA, Thomas Keller, is the highest distinction in rowing and has been awarded each year since 1990 to recognise an exceptional rowing career and exemplary sportsmanship.
The medal can only be awarded to a rower who has retired from the sport and ‘who has had a long and successful rowing career and who has made an outstanding contribution to rowing as a competitor and as a sports personality’.
McKay won the award ahead of Jean – Christophe Rolland (FRA), Constantina Burcica (ROM), Rob Waddell (NZ) and Katrin Rutschow – Stomporowski (GER).
McKay, who was part of Australia’s Oarsome Foursome during the 1990’s, represented his country at five Olympic Games, winning gold in the Men’s Coxless Four in 1992 and 1996. He also competed as part of the Men’s Eight in 2000 and 2004, picking up a silver and bronze medal respectively.
McKay, who retired after the Athens Olympic Games at the age of 40, says that he is honoured to be held in such high regard by the rowing community.
“It is the highlight of my rowing career to win the Thomas Keller medal”, McKay said. “Thomas Keller was a great man and he was an integral part of rowing. The calibre of rowers who have won this award is quite amazing and I am privileged to be held in the same regard as them.”
Previous winners of the Thomas Keller medal have included British legend Steve Redgrave, fellow Brit Matthew Pinsent and Australia’s Peter Antoine.
For more information please call David Polglase on
(02) 6273 0232 or 0401 453 041
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Monday 9 July 2007
Royal victory for Australian rowers
Australia’s women sculling squad have begun their international campaign with an impressive display at the Henley Royal Regatta in England.
Despite the squad being reduced to only four healthy athletes, the crew of Amber Halliday (SA), Kerry Hore (TAS), Amber Bradley (WA) and Marguerite Houston (SA) triumphed in the final against a Dutch crew to take out the Princess Grace Trophy.
The Henley Royal Regatta has been held annually since 1839 and provides crews with match racing down a windy 2112 metre course. Although the regatta varies to normal racing, the victory will provide a much needed boost for the Australian team ahead of the third and final Rowing World Cup in Lucern, 13 – 15 July.
Halliday and Houston will race in the Women’s Lightweight Double, with Hore part of the Heavyweight Double and Bradley the Heavyweight Quad at the World Cup.
Adrian David, coach of the Australian Women’s Scull squad says the annual event provided a good preparation for the more important races coming up.
“We came here with the expectation of doing well, despite having to mix up our crews”, David said. “It was pleasing to see the girl’s row better as the regatta progressed and their skill level in the final was excellent.”
The Men’s 8 was defeated in the final of the Grand Challenge Cup by Canada, but will take confidence from their performance and will be well assisted by the extra race practice.
The Men’s Sweep and Women’s Scull squads will now head to Lucern, Switzerland where they will be joined by the Men’s Lightweight squad to race in World Cup 3.
For more information please call David Polglase on
(02) 6273 0232 or 0401 453 041
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June 2007
World Cup II — Amsterdam, The Netherlands
(three releases)
Monday 25 June 2007
Australia narrowly miss medals in Amsterdam
Australia has finished the second Rowing World Cup with two fourth places in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
In the Women’s 8 the crew of Sarah Outhwaite (VIC), Natalie Bale (WA), Robyn Selby Smith (VIC), Sarah Cook (ACT), Kim Crow (VIC), Sarah Heard (VIC), Sally Kehoe (QLD), Kate Hornsey (TAS), coxed by Lizzy Patrick (VIC) finished behind the Netherlands, Germany and China.
The Netherlands controlled the race from the outset and finished a boat length clear in a time of 6:12.76.
In the Men’s Quadruple Sculls David Kelly (WA), James Gatti (WA), James McRae (SA) and Chris Morgan (SA) enjoyed a successful regatta to finish fourth in the final.
Poland won the final in a time of 5:51.42 ahead of the Czech Republic and France. McRae, Gatti and Kelly are all Under 23 athletes and will only improve before this year’s World Championships and then the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Interviews with athletes can be arranged through the Team Manager Ray Ebert on 0412 576 460
For more information please call David Polglase on
(02) 6273 0232 or 0401 453 041
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Sunday 24 June 2007
Aussie double claim bronze
David Crawshay (VIC) and Scott Brennan (TAS) have won the bronze medal in the Men’s Double Scull at Rowing World Cup 2 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The Estonian pair of Tonu Endrekson and Jueri Jaanson shocked the field as they claimed the gold medal from lane 1 in a time of 6:10.66. The Great Britain pair of Steve Rowbotham and Matthew Wells, who claimed the gold in Austria in World Cup 1. finished second just ahead of the Australian crew.
Crawshay and Brennan rowed an exceptional race and once again proved that they will be a force to contend with at the World Championships in Munich in August.
“We have been really happy with our progress on this tour”, Crawshay said. “We have shown that we can compete at the highest level and now are looking forward to the World Championships.”
Australia’s Sarah Cook (ACT) and Kim Crow (VIC) finished third in the final of the Women’s Pair.
Cook and Crow, who were looking to defend their gold medal from the first World Cup event in Austria, finished behind the Chinese pair of Yage Zhang and Yulan Gao who completed the race in a time of 7:01.04. The New Zealand pair of Juliette Haigh and Nicky Coles finished second whilst Sally Kehoe (QLD) and Kate Hornsey (TAS) came fourth.
Cook, Crow, Hornsey and Kehoe will combine with the gold medal winning Women’s Four in the final of the Women’s 8 in the penultimate race of the regatta later today.
Interviews with athletes can be arranged through the Team Manager Ray Ebert on 0412 576 460
For more information please call David Polglase on
(02) 6273 0232 or 0401 453 041
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Sunday 24 June 2007
Women’s Four provide golden start
Australia has won the first gold medal on offer on the final day of Rowing World Cup 2 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
The crew of Robyn Selby Smith (VIC), Natalie Bale (WA), Sarah Outhwaite (VIC) and Sarah Heard (VIC) convincingly won the final of the Women’s Four in a time of 6:31.06. Australia also picked up the silver medal, with Phoebe Stanley (VIC), Sonia Mills (ACT), Emily Martin (VIC) and Vicky Roberts (NSW) finishing 3 seconds off the pace.
The two Australian crews dominated the race from the outset as they reaffirmed their status as the World Champions in this event.
Sarah Heard, who will form part of the Women’s 8 crew later today, said the race was good preparation for the rest of the international season.
“We are very happy with the result and feel as though we are beginning to find a good rhythm”, Heard said. “The Women’s 8 will be an important race as we are looking to improve on our result from three weeks ago.”
In earlier races the Men’s 8 finished a disappointing 4th in the B Final. With little racing under their belts, they were off the pace for the majority of the weekend.
Interviews with athletes can be arranged through the Team Manager Ray Ebert on 0412 576 460
For more information please call David Polglase on
(02) 6273 0232 or 0401 453 041
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Releases (x2) regarding World Cup I — Linz, Austria
Sunday 3 June 2007
Australia gains mixed results at World Cup 1
The final day of World Cup 1 has concluded in Linz, Austria with a mixed bag of results for the Australian crews.
Following Sarah Cook and Kim Crow claiming gold in the Women’s Pair earlier in the day, two further Australian crews competed in finals.
David Crawshay (VIC) and Scott Brennan (TAS) rowed a great race in the Men’s Double Scull to be placed 2nd after the 1000 metre mark, only to finish in 6th place after a blanket finish on the line. All six crews finished within 1.32 secs of each other with the Great Britain combination of Matthew Wells and Steven Rowbotham claiming the race in 6:18.55.
The Australian Women’s 8 finished in 5th place in their final after enduring an interrupted build up to the event. Sally Kehoe, who was due to be on the bow seat, pulled out after the first morning due to an illness she contracted earlier in the week.
Germany controlled the final from the outset and finished the race in 6:16.81 ahead of the crews from Great Britain and The Netherlands.
Australia’s attention will now turn to World Cup 2 in Amsterdam, Netherlands on June 22 -24 where they will be looking to fine tune their preparations before the World Rowing Championships in August.
Interviews with athletes can be arranged through the
Team Manager Ray Ebert on 0412 576 460
For more information please call David Polglase on
(02) 6273 0232 or 0401 453 041
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Sunday 3 June 2007
World Champions beaten as Australia claims gold
Australia’s Kim Crow (VIC) and Sarah Cook (ACT) have caused a major upset at World Cup 1 after claiming gold in the Women’s Pair in Linz, Austria.
Cook and Crow, 2007 Australian Champions, finished in a time of 7:09.39 ahead of the two fancied United States crews of Megan Cooke and Anna Mickelson, and the Susan Francia and Caroline Lind. The reigning World Champions from Canada, Darcy Marquardt and Jane Rumball finished 4th.
The Australian duo had a solid start to sit just behind the Canadians through the first 1000m before powering past the World Champions with 800m to go and holding off a strong finish from Cooke and Mickelson to win by half a boat.
Cook could not contain her delight after the race and said that it was a great feeling to claim the gold.
“We have had a great domestic season and are rowing really well together”, Cook said. “It is a great feeling to win the gold and a reward for all the hard work we have done.”
Crow backed up Cook’s comments and said this was an important step in their development.
“We knew that the level of competition would be an extra step up and I simply can’t believe it”, Crow said.
Robyn Selby Smith (VIC) and Natalie Bale (WA) finished sixth in the final, while in earlier racing Australia’s Men’s Quad Scull crew of Chris Morgan (SA), James Gatti (WA), James McRae (SA) and David Kelly (WA) won the B Final.
Live streaming is available on the pay per view website www.wcsn.com as well as live race tracker on www.worldrowing.com
Interviews with athletes can be arranged through the
Team Manager Ray Ebert on 0412 576 460
For more information please call David Polglase on
(02) 6273 0232 or 0401 453 041
