February 2008
Friday 22 February
Tomkins moves a step closer to Olympic dream
James Tomkins moved a step closer to competing at his sixth Olympic Games after he was named in the 2008 Australian Rowing Team this morning.
Tomkins has been named as part of the Men’s Eight squad following the second round of selection trials that finished last Wednesday at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith.
Tomkins will be joined in the squad by Sam Conrad, Stephen Stewart, David Dennis, Sam Loch, James Chapman, Tom Laurich and Jeremy Stevenson, with the boat to be coxed by Marty Rabjohns.
This squad is not the official Olympic crew but, providing there are no changes, will be nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee on June 25. The AOC will then name the team to compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Tomkins, who has won three Olympic gold medals in five appearances, says he was relieved to clear the latest hurdle.
“Selection trials are always a high pressure situation, but now we are through that stage and can start focusing on making the boat go as quickly as possible” Tomkins said. “I haven’t made it to Beijing yet and there will certainly be a lot of hard work before the AOC name the Olympic team.”
Following the Rowing Australia board meeting last night, six further Australian crews and squads were named this morning. Those that have been named as part of a crew have their places confirmed throughout the whole season, whereas those that have been named in a squad are liable to changes.
Squads and crews for the Men’s Lightweight Double Scull, Men’s Double Scull, Men’s Lightweight Four, Women’s Eight and Women’s Pair have all been selected. (See below for more details).
The remaining crews and squads will be named at the conclusion of the third round of selection trials, which are to be held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, April 11 – 20.
Australia has qualified 11 boats out of a possible 14 for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. There remains one further opportunity to qualify the remaining three boats at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Poznan, Poland, June 15 – 18.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Friday 15 February
Race hots up for Men’s Eight seats
The race for spots in the Men’s Eight continued on Friday at the Rowing Australia selection trials at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.
On the final day of the regatta, the athletes contesting selection in the Men’s sweep program completed their third rotation in the Men’s Four, with James Tomkins (VIC) and Sam Conrad (QLD) once again involved in the winning boat.
Tomkins and Conrad, who are now favourites to be the first picked in the Eight, combined with Jeremy Stevenson (WA) and Stephan Stewart (NSW) to win the race (6:00.65) by three tenths of a second from Sam Loch (NSW), James Chapman (NSW), Tom Laurich (NSW) and David Dennis (VIC).
Stewart, who is returning to rowing after competing at the Athens Olympics in the Men’s Eight, has displayed strong performances all week and is now pushing for a spot. Dennis, who stroked the Men’s Four in Athens, is also moving into contention for a spot in the blue ribbon boat.
Conrad said that the racing had been of exceptional quality all week and he was relieved to have won the race today.
“The last three days have been pretty taxing and today was tough all the way to the line”, Conrad said. “We only passed the other crew in the last 50 metres so had to row hard all the way to the line.”
The Men’s Lightweight Four of Anthony Edwards (TAS), Ben Cureton (WA), Rod Chisholm (NSW) and Todd Skipworth (WA) moved a step closer to selection after a strong showing against the heavyweight men.
Zoe Uphill (NSW) and Kerry Hore (TAS) won the Women’s Double Scull in a time of 7:03.18 ahead of the lightweight crew of Amber Halliday (SA) and Marguerite Houston (SA), and Catriona Sens (VIC) and Amy Ives (NSW).
David Crawshay (VIC) and Scott Brennan (TAS) won the third round of the Men’s Double Scull by an impressive 5 seconds as they look to remain as the favoured choice for Australia on the back of last year’s international season. They won in a time of 6:19.48 ahead of James Gatti (WA) and James McRae (SA), and Brendan Long (TAS) and Chris Morgan (SA).
With the regatta now over selectors will focus on finding the best combinations in the “big boats” for the next few days before a number of crews may be selected next week.
Those athletes that are no longer required for trialling will be informed this afternoon after a team meeting.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Thursday 14 February
Crawshay continues fine form in Penrith
The second round of Australia’s rowing selection trials continued at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith this morning with Victorian David Crawshay continuing his good form.
Crawshay won his second consecutive Men’s Double Scull race in two days when he partnered Chris Morgan (SA) to take out the race in 6:22.65.
The Tasmanian duo of Brendan Long and Scott Brennan came home in second place ahead of James Gatti (WA) and Dan Noonan (NSW).
Crawshay, who will be aiming to be part of the priority double scull boat, was happy with his form in the race.
“We got a good start today; I have been happy with my starts all week actually”, Crawshay said. “It is a high pressure week but I am pretty happy with where I am placed to date.”
James Tomkins continued his push to represent Australia at his 6th Olympics when he partnered Sam Conrad (QLD), David Dennis (VIC) and Sam Loch (NSW). They won the race in a time of 5:58.77 and will all be in contention for a spot in the Men’s Eight.
In the women’s pair, Sarah Cook (ACT) and Kim Crow (VIC) won a very tight race in front of Liz Kell (NSW) and Sarah Heard (VIC), and Brooke Pratley (NSW) and Sarah Tait (VIC) with a time of 7:10.54.
In the Women’s single scull Pippa Savage (QLD) finished in a time of 7:35.25 to claim the race by a boat length from Kerry Hore (TAS), with Zoe Uphill (NSW) a further two lengths back.
Tasmania’s Tom Gibson won the Men’s Lightweight single scull, while Rod Chisholm (NSW) and Anthony Edwards (TAS) won their second race in the Men’s Lightweight Pair.
Racing will continue on Friday morning at 8am.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Wednesday 13 February
Olympic trials underway for Australia’s top rowers
The second round of Australia’s rowing selection trials commenced at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith this morning.
All athletes in contention for an Olympic place have been invited to the trials and raced under perfect conditions at the 2000 Olympic course.
The Women’s Single Scull were the first to test the waters and raced in two heats, with all athletes then progressing through to the final tomorrow morning.
Tasmania’s Kerry Hore set the fastest time of both heats in 7:33.48, and will race from the centre lane tomorrow. She will be seeded ahead of Zoe Uphill (NSW) and Pippa Savage (QLD), with Uphill coming second in heat 1 behind Hore, and Savage winning the second heat by a comfortable margin.
The Men’s Double Scull race was won by David Crawshay (VIC) and Brendan Long (TAS), in a time of 6:16.38. They finished ahead of James McRae (SA) and Dan Noonon (NSW), with Scott Brennan (TAS) and Chris Morgan (SA) one spot further back. The combinations will switch around for the second round of racing tomorrow morning as the selectors aim to find the quickest boat.
James Tomkins (VIC) led his Men’s Four crew to a boat length victory to underline his status as one of the stronger rowers in the men’s sweep program. Tomkins, who raced with Sam Conrad (QLD), James Chapman (NSW) and Tom Laurich (NSW) won, completed the course in 5:59.64. With the Men’s Eight likely to be named at some stage next week Tomkins has now strengthened his position as he looks to compete at his 6th Olympic Games.
Tomkins said after the race that he was happy with his performance.
“We felt pretty good out there on the water today and it was nice getting a race under our belts” Tomkins said. “It is obviously a pretty important week for all involved and we are all keen to make a good impression with the selectors.”
In the Men’s Lightweight Pair Rod Chisholm (NSW) and Anthony Edwards (TAS) were excellent as they won their race in a clear time of three and a half seconds. Ben Cureton and Todd Skipworth were second home, with the Tasmanian pair of Blair Tunevitsch and Shaun Finlayson third.
The Women’s Pair races were postponed until Thursday, where all the athletes will race in a straight final. The talent of this group is very strong and will be a race to watch in the Thursday session.
Racing on Thursday begins with the final of the Women’s Single Scull at 8am.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Tuesday 12 February
Selection trials commence for Australian Olympic hopefuls
The second round of the Rowing Australia selection trials will begin tomorrow at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.
Over the first three days of the trials there will be a regatta, before seat racing commences on Saturday and runs through to Wednesday 20 February.
The Australian selectors will then sit down and assess the possibility of selecting further crews, which can then be nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee to compete in Beijing.
Australia has already nominated the 2007 World Championship crews of Duncan Free and Drew Ginn in the Men’s Pair, and Amber Halliday and Marguerite Houston in the Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls.
Noel Donaldson, Rowing Australia High Performance Director, says that it would be good to name as many crews as possible on February 22, but this is not always feasible.
“To be as fair as possible, we must consider a whole set of criteria – and give weight to each of them in any given circumstance”, Donaldson said. “Although quite long and arduous, our obvious aim is to get the right people in the boats.”
“In a sport where individuals have to combine to row in absolute harmony, this can be quite a process. In the past, we’ve undergone a similar process and have gone into the Olympics with some fantastic crews.”
On Wednesday morning there will be heats in the Women’s Single Scull, Men’s Double Scull, Men’s Four, Women’s Lightweight Single Scull, Women’s Pair, Men’s Lightweight Double Scull and Men’s Lightweight Pair.
Australia has so far qualified 11 out of a possible 14 boats for the Olympic Games, with their final chance coming in Poznan, Poland at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta, June 15–18.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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Thursday 7 February
Olympic crunch time for Australian rowers
The second selection trials for the Australian Rowing Team will be held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith, February 13–20.
The trials will begin with a regatta on the first three days of racing, where the athletes will have a chance to impress selectors ahead of seat racing for the remainder of the trials.
Two Australian crews have already been nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee to compete at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, with the option open after these trials for further crews to be named.
Australia’s two 2007 world championship winning crews, the Men’s Pair of Duncan Free and Drew Ginn, and the Women’s Lightweight Double Scull of Amber Halliday and Marguerite Houston were nominated to the AOC last December but will still compete at the trials next week in other categories.
Rowing Australia High Performance Director Noel Donaldson said that the Australian selectors are hoping to nominate as many other crews as early as possible.
“Obviously the selection process is a stressful time for all athletes and coaches – especially in an Olympic year” Donaldson said. “We have already had some really promising signs for the future, but in the end selection into the Australian Rowing team (and then later on into the Olympic team) will be based on several criteria. Results at the trials will have a major impact, but that is not the only factor the selectors take into consideration.”
“To be as fair as possible, we must consider a whole set of criteria – and give weight to each of them in any given circumstance. Although quite long and arduous, our obvious aim is to get the right people in the boats. In a sport where individuals have to combine to row in absolute harmony, this can be quite a process. In the past, we’ve undergone a similar process and have gone into the Olympics with some fantastic crews”
The crews that are named on the Australian Rowing Team will then be nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee before being included in the Australian Olympic team that will travel to Beijing in August.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
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January 2008
Friday 18 January
Australian Men’s Eight on road to Beijing
The Australian men’s sweep squad resumed normal business today after the Men’s Eight gained qualification for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Having finished one place outside qualifying the boat for the Olympics at the 2007 World Rowing Championships, the Australian crew was handed a lifeline overnight when the Russian Men’s Eight was disqualified after three of their athletes were banned for using intravenous infusion, a method prohibited under the World Anti–Doping Code.
The result paves the way for the Men’s Eight to concentrate on their preparation for the Olympics. After last year’s result the crew’s only other chance of gaining qualification was going to come at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Poland, June 15–18, where only a win would book a place in Beijing.
Andrew Dee, Rowing Australia Chief Executive Officer, said that Rowing Australia had been informed of the decision last night.
“We were advised after Munich that there may be some additional investigations held, we didn’t know which athletes were involved or which boat classes”, Dee said. “We were only advised last night of the outcome. It helps us to focus on the end result in Beijing”
The decision also brings James Tomkins one step closer to competing at his sixth Olympic Games for Australia.
Tomkins, who has won three Olympic Gold medals, returned to the team last year after a two year lay off and joined the Men’s Eight crew.
Despite missing out on qualification last year, Tomkins said he was always confident that the crew would make it to Beijing.
“I was very confident we were going to get to Beijing anyway, whether we had to go through qualification or not”, Tomkins said. “Last year was obviously very disappointing but we are past that now.”
Australian men’s head coach, Brian Richardson, said that it was a relief to now be rowing in Beijing.
“In a way it’s a great relief that we now don’t have to go through the qualification championships and we now can focus on the real goal which is the Olympics”, Richardson said. “If you are trying to peak for the qualifier, which you have to, then your performance at the Olympics may not be as strong.”
The second selection trials for the Australian Rowing Team will be held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith, February 13–20. The majority of the Australian team to compete at the Olympics is expected to be named upon the conclusion of this event.
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
