Close racing paves way for international campaign

Friday 7 August 2009

Australia’s 10 World Championship crews have completed their second last row before flying to Europe to compete in the 2009 World Rowing Championships in Poznan, Poland. The team completed three head-to-head races on Friday morning in sunny conditions at the Sydney International Regatta Centre. They will stage one more round of racing on Saturday morning before departing Australia on Sunday.

In the first race of the morning the women’s double scull, women’s pair, women’s lightweight double scull and women’s four all showed positive signs across the 2000m. The crews went off a staggered time start to create a close finish, with the women’s lightweight double scull of Alice McNamara (VIC) and Bronwen Watson (NSW) winning on the line.

The men’s quad scull narrowly won the second event of the day to topple the men’s eight, men’s four and men’s lightweight four in an equally close finish that contained excellent racing pace.

Meanwhile Ben Houlison (NSW) continued his push for a medal in his first world championships campaign with a strong row. Houlison, entered in the men’s adaptive single scull, held off the adaptive coxed four in their race, who also showed they have come a long way since being selected in July.

National High Performance Director, Andrew Matheson, paid credit to all ten Australian crews.

“The progress made by all ten crews over the last four weeks was very noticeable in the three races this morning,” Matheson said. “We have based the racing today and tomorrow around a regatta format so I expect we will see some more improvement tomorrow.

“All the crews are looking forward to the world championships and there is a good feeling amongst the whole group.”

The Australian team arrives in Varese, Italy on Monday 10 August to complete an eight day training camp at the AIS European Training Facility.

They will then transfer to Poland on the Wednesday 19 August.

The 2009 World Rowing Championships run from 23-30 August at the Malta Regatta Course in Poznan, Poland.

For the full list of Australian crews please visit http://www.rowingaustralia.com.au/hp_natlteam-members_snra.shtm

For all media enquiries please call David Polglase on 0401 453 041

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