March 2010
Thursday 25 March
Selection trials offer strength in numbers
Australia’s elite rowers will compete for places on the 2010 Australian Rowing Team when the National Selection Trials are held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre next month.
Following the conclusion of the Australian Rowing Championships, 63 male and female rowers have been invited to contest the Senior A trials, where a number of crews will be named to compete at two world cups in Europe later this year. From this squad, a final team will be named for the 2010 World Rowing Championships in New Zealand commencing on October 31.
16 Beijing Olympians, who all had a year out of the boat in 2009, have been invited to attend the trials, while the bulk of the 2009 team will also endeavour to retain their places.
Returning gold medallist Duncan Free, who surged to gold in the men’s pair with Drew Ginn in Beijing, makes his long awaited return as he begins his quest to compete at a fifth Olympic Games in London 2012.
Tasmanian Kerry Hore, who is rowing out of the AIS in Canberra, will add to the strength and depth of the women’s squad, as she vies for selection in a sculling crew –double or quad.
2008 Australian women’s captain Sarah Tait, after giving birth to her first child, also returns to the fray, while three times Olympic medallist Anthony Edwards, is one of 14 lightweights contesting selection.
Rowing Australia High Performance Director Andrew Matheson, says the talent pool available in 2010 makes for a promising season.
“Whenever you throw in experienced athletes like some of the ones we have returning then it is always a positive,” Matheson said. “Their return increases the talent pool available to selectors, but also creates great competition for seats on the team.
“The group we took away last year have all improved and they will not want to give up their positions lightly. With everyone being so competitive, it increases the drive and effort in every athlete, and that can only be good for elite rowing in Australia.”
The 2010 Australian Under 23 and Junior teams will also be selected at the trials, for their respective world championships.
The National Selection Trials will commence on Friday 23 April, with the trials concluding on Sunday 2 May.
| Name |
Small boat |
Club/School/
Institute/Academy |
| |
|
|
| Men |
|
|
Chris
Morgan |
Sen A M1x #1 |
Adalaide Uni/SASI |
David
Crawshay |
Sen A M1x #2 |
Mercantile/VIS/AIS |
Karsten
Forsterling |
Sen A M1x #3 |
Melbourne Uni/VIS |
Jared
Bidwell |
Sen A M1x #4 |
Uni of Queensland/AIS |
Dan
Noonan |
Sen A M1x #5 |
Mosman/NSWIS |
David
Kelly |
Sen A M1x #6 |
Swans/WAIS |
James
McRae |
Sen A M1x #7 |
Murray Bridge/SASI |
Nick
Hudson |
Sen A M1x #8 |
Sydney Uni/NSWIS |
Scott
Brennan |
Sen A M1x #9 |
Lindisfarne/TIS/AIS |
Lachlan
McKinnon |
Sen A M1x #10 |
Mercantile |
| |
|
|
Cameron
McKenzie-McHarg |
Sen A M2- #1 |
Melbourne Uni/VIS |
James
Marburg |
Sen A M2- #1 |
Melbourne Uni/VIS |
Joshua
Dunkley-Smith |
Sen A M2- #2 |
Mercantile/AIS |
Tom
Larkins |
Sen A M2- #2 |
Melbourne Uni/AIS |
Sam
Loch |
Sen A M2- #3 |
Sydney Uni/NSWIS/AIS |
Nicholas
Purnell |
Sen A M2- #3 |
Sydney Uni/NSWIS/AIS |
Matthew
Ryan |
Sen A M2- #4 |
Sydney Uni/NSWIS/AIS |
Fergus
Pragnell |
Sen A M2- #4 |
Sydney Uni |
Tom
Swann |
Sen A M2- #5 |
Mercantile/AIS |
Bryn
Coudraye |
Sen A M2- #5 |
Adelaide /AIS |
Dominic
Grimm |
Sen A M2- #6 |
Sydney RC/AIS |
Ned
Kinnear |
Sen A M2- #6 |
Adelaide Uni/SASI |
Nickolas
Harris |
Sen A M2- #7 |
ANUBC/ACTAS |
Kieran
Kobelke |
Sen A M2- #7 |
Mosman |
Duncan
Free |
Sen A M2- #8 |
Uni of Qld/QAS |
Sam
Conrad |
Sen A M2- #8 |
Uni of Qld/QAS |
John
Linke |
Sen A M2- #9 |
Mercantile/VIS |
Francis
Hegerty |
Sen A M2- #9 |
Sydney Uni/NSWIS/VIS |
| |
|
|
Samuel
Beltz |
Sen A LM2- #1 |
Lindisfarne/TIS |
Anthony
Edwards |
Sen A LM2- #1 |
New Norfolk/TIS |
Thomas
Gibson |
Sen A LM2- #2 |
Huon/TIS |
Alister
Foot |
Sen A LM2- #2 |
Tamar/TIS |
Perry
Ward |
Sen A LM2- #3 |
Swan River/WAIS |
Ross
Brown |
Sen A LM2- #3 |
Swan River/WAIS |
Todd
Skippworth |
Sen A LM2- #4 |
Swan River/WAIS |
Blair
Tunevitsch |
Sen A LM2- #4 |
Tamar/TIS |
Darryn
Purcell |
Sen A LM2- #5 |
Toowong/QAS |
Michael
Mcbryde |
Sen A LM2- #5 |
Uni of Qld/QAS |
Angus
Tyers |
Sen A LM2- #6 |
Melbourne Uni/VIS |
Thomas
Bertrand |
Sen A LM2- #6 |
Mercantile/VIS |
Shaun
Finlayson |
Sen A LM2- #7 |
Lindisfarne/TIS |
Nick
Baker |
Sen A LM2- #7 |
Lindisfarne/TIS |
| |
|
|
| Coxswains |
|
|
Tobias
Lister |
Cox #1 |
Sydney Uni/AIS |
David
Webster |
Cox #2 |
Melbourne Uni |
Mark
Alexander |
Cox #3 |
Uni of Qld |
Nick
Allen-Ducat |
Cox #4 |
Uni of Qld |
| |
|
|
| Women |
|
|
Sally
Kehoe |
Sen A W1x #1 |
Sydney Uni/AIS |
Kerry
Hore |
Sen A W1x #2 |
New Norfolk/TIS/AIS |
Philippa
Savage |
Sen A W1x #3 |
Uni of QLD/QAS |
Kim
Crow |
Sen A W1x #4 |
Melbourne Uni/VIS/AIS |
Sarah
Cook |
Sen A W1x #5 |
Sydney Uni/AIS |
Brooke
Pratley |
Sen A W1x #6 |
Sydney Uni/NSWIS |
Amber
Bradley |
Sen A W1x #7 |
Perth/WAIS |
| |
|
|
Phoebe
Stanley |
Sen A W2- #1 |
Melbourne Uni/VIS |
Pauline
Frasca |
Sen A W2- #1 |
Mercantile/VIS |
Sarah
Heard |
Sen A W2- #2 |
Melbourne Uni/VIS |
Sarah
Tait |
Sen A W2- #2 |
Mercantile/VIS |
Kate
Hornsey |
Sen A W2- #3 |
Mercantile/VIS |
Sophie
Robson |
Sen A W2- #3 |
Melbourne Uni/VIS |
| |
|
|
Hannah
Every-Hall |
Sen A LW1x #1 |
Dutton Park/QAS |
Alice
McNamara |
Sen A LW1x #2 |
Melbourne Uni/VIS |
Tara
Kelly |
Sen A LW1x #3 |
Tweed Heads/QAS |
Ingrid
Fenger |
Sen A LW1x #4 |
Tamar/TIS |
Maja
Fiddler |
Sen A LW1x #5 |
Torrens/SASI |
Carly
Cottam |
Sen A LW1x #6 |
Tamar/TIS |
Katherine
Murray |
Sen A LW1x #7 |
Melbourne Uni |
| |
|
|
| Adaptive |
|
|
Ben
Houlison |
A |
Lakes Rowers/AIS |
Kathryn
Ross |
TA |
Lakes Rowers/AIS |
Grant
Bailey |
TA |
Lakes Rowers/AIS |
Alexandra
Green |
LTA |
UNSW |
Carol
Cooke |
LTA |
Mercantile |
Nicholas
Bisetto |
LTA |
Mercantile |
Peter
Siri |
LTA |
James Cook University |
Shannon
Narracott |
Coxswain |
Canberra Rowing Club |
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
Monday 1 to Sunday 7 March
RA media releases during
Australian Rowing Championships
See here for all releases.
For more information please call
Mark Hindle on 0406 496 209
mark@contentgroup.com.au
February 2010
Thursday 25 February
Lake Nagambie sets itself for National Championships
Final preparations are underway for the start of the 2010 Australian Rowing Championships and Interstate Regatta which will commence this Monday (1 March) at Lake Nagambie, Victoria.
Over 1600 competitors from across Australia will compete at the regatta, the first time the event has been held at Nagambie since 2007.
The regatta features racing from Australia’s elite, but also many of the country’s most talented rowing schools.
Rowing Australia High Performance Director, Andrew Matheson, says the Nationals will be the first step in the process for National Team selection ahead of a busy international schedule in 2010.
“We have a busy international season with the World Junior Championships, the Under 23 World Championships, the World Youth Olympic Games and the World Championships in New Zealand,” Matheson said.
“Throw in the two world cups the Australian Senior A team is contesting and we have a long, full program.
“There are Olympians coming up against some young guns so it will be good to see what kind of depth we’ve got as we look towards these international competitions, as well as towards London 2012.
“Many of these elite rowers haven’t raced against each other so the results will be interesting.”
Racing commences on Monday 1 March at 8am and concludes with the Interstate Regatta on Sunday 7 March.
Throughout the week results, reports and news from the event can be found at www.rowingaustralia.com.au, with live streaming of the weekend’s action being broadcast on the World Championship Sports Network (WCSN) for the first time.
For more information please call
Mark Hindle on 0406 496 209
mark@contentgroup.com.au
Wednesday 17 February
Young Talent set to Star at National Titles
Junior rowers from around Australia are set to converge on Lake Nagambie, Victoria, for the 2010 Australian Rowing Championships & Interstate Regatta to battle it out for national supremacy in almost unprecedented numbers.
With entries for the regatta now closed, almost half of the 1600 regatta entrants are 17 or under. The stage is now set for the stars of the future to strut their stuff in front of the watchful gaze of state and national coaches and selectors.
Rowing Australia’s Elite Development Manager, Peter Shakespear, says the talent displayed on the shores of Lake Nagambie will be evidence of the subtle change that has been experienced in rowing over the last few years.
“We’ve seen a greater number of junior rowers coming out of regional clubs and country schools which is very exciting,” Shakespear said.
“Almost half of the Junior and School single scull entries are from these regional centres which shows the spread of talent across the country is not just centered in capital cities.”
With the increase in young talent and the emergence of a greater percentage of regional talent, Rowing Australia has undertaken initiatives upon where younger participants of the sport are encouraged to keep rowing, especially those may have just completed their studies.
“Rowing Australia has put into place two initiatives focusing on identifying young talent and actively encouraging them to stay involved in the sport,” Shakespear said.
“Through Senior Coordinator Wayne Diplock, Rowing Australia works closely with the National Talent Identification and Development program (NTID) from the Australian Sports Commission.
This program operates in all States to help identify and nurture very talented young rowers as their bodies and minds develop into athletes,”
“The second program we offer is the National Elite Development Program (NEDP) which helps us to identify and work with up and coming young rowers who may not be part of the AIS or state squads but are likely to be very successful in the future.”
With these initiatives in place it is hoped the future of rowing in Australia will be as strong as ever, with much of the current crop of youngsters setting their sights on the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
“We may be a little bit close to London 2012 to have an effect but the prospect of medals Rio in 2016 is a real possibility for this group of talented rowers.” Shakespear said.
For more information please call
Mark Hindle on 0406 496 209
mark@contentgroup.com.au
Friday 12 February
Last hit-out for Australia’s best ahead of National Titles
This weekend will see both the Victorian and Tasmanian State Championships take place in what will be the last chance for many of Australia’s best to prepare for the upcoming National Championships to be held at Lake Nagambie, Victoria, March 1–7.
The Tasmanian championships will see numerous Olympic and World Championship competitors take part in what looks set to be tantalising battles across both men’s and women’s categories.
Beijing Olympian Sam Beltz goes into the weekend favourite for the men’s senior single scull, men’s pair and men’s lightweight single scull. Beltz will come up against fellow Olympian and Beijing doubles partner, Tom Gibson, in a hotly contested field in the lightweight single’s event.
The women’s events are set to be just as competitive with the highlight being Australian representatives Carly Cottom, Ingrid Fenger and former under 23 world championship bronze medallist Ella Flecker all doing battle for the women’s lightweight title.
Over in Victoria the racing is shaping up to be just as hot with Olympic medallists and World Champions looking to catch the coaches eyes for sculling and sweeping positions ahead of the World Championships later this year.
Western Australian and Beijing Olympian, Natalie Bale, will be heading to the Garden State to compete with the likes of World Champion Robin Selby-Smith along with Olympians, Sarah Tait, Sarah Hird and Pauline Frasca.
The men’s categories will be no less competitive with Olympic Men’s Coxless Four silver medallists, Francis Hegerty, Cameron McKenzie-McHarg, James Marburg and Mathew Ryan all taking part in the action.
Olympic gold medallist, David Crawshay will also be competing in his last competitive hit-out before the national titles in three weeks.
For more information please call
Mark Hindle on 0406 496 209
mark@contentgroup.com.au
Tuesday 2 February
Australian rowing snares prized recruit
The New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) and the Australian rowing fraternity have pulled off a major coup by capturing highly rated United States coach Curtis Jordan.
Jordan has been appointed as the Head Coach of the NSWIS rowing program and commences in his role on Thursday 4 February, thus filling the final place on offer in the National Training Centre’s across Australia.
The United States coach held one of the most successful records in the sport of rowing upon his retirement in 2009, but the lure of working in the Australian rowing program brought him out of retirement to take up his new position.
Jordan held the position of head coach at the Princeton University for 19 years and during this time was crowned as the most successful coach in their 130 year rowing history.
During this time Jordan’s feats included an unbeaten 2006 season where his heavyweight men’s eight crew finished with a record of 9-0. This included being the first collegiate crew to win the men’s championship eights since 1983.
Jordan has also coached four United States Olympic crews, with his best result coming in 1996, where he led the men’s lightweight four to a bronze medal.
National High Performance Director Andrew Matheson says Jordan’s appointment is another huge step forward in the national high performance program.
“Curtis has an extremely impressive record and has shown he has the ability to gain the best out of his athletes at the elite level,” Matheson said. “For NSWIS to gain his services is a credit to the program they are operating and his expertise will be of great value throughout their rowing program, and indeed right across Australia.”
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
January 2010
Thursday 28 January
Rowing Australia welcomes new Paralympic CEO
Rowing Australia has welcomed today’s appointment of new Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) CEO Jason Hellwig.
Rowing Australia has worked closely with Mr Hellwig and his team in recent years and has developed a strong understanding and relationship with the APC.
Rowing Australia CEO Andrew Dee congratulates Jason on his appointment and believes it is an appropriate one for the organisation.
“Jason has already contributed significantly to the APC over many years and is sure to build upon the strong success the organisation has achieved,” Dee said. “We have close ties with the APC and these will only improve with him at the wheel ahead of the 2012 London Paralympic Games.”
For more information please call
David Polglase on 0401 453 041
