The Rowing Australia Board has officially announced the Australian Rowing Team following the conclusion of the 2012 National Selection Trials at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith.
 
A squad of 56 athletes has been announced across 15 (13 Olympic, 2 Paralympic) different boat classes as Australia aims to build on the success it achieved at the 2011 World Rowing Championships.
 
The decision was taken to send three crews to the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland (May 20-23) in an attempt to add to the 10 boats already set to feature at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
 
A squad of ten athletes, along with coxswain Lizzy Patrick (VIC), has been selected in the women’s eight after a number of impressive performances across the selection regatta.
 
The squad, containing Phoebe Stanley (VIC), Hannah Vermeersch (WA), Alexandra Hagan (WA), Sally Kehoe (QLD), Tess Gerrand (NSW), Renee Chatterton (SA), Emma McCarthy (QLD), Sarah Cook (NSW), Amy Clay (NSW) and Robyn Selby Smith (VIC), will continue to train over the next three weeks before a final decision on the make-up of the crew is decided on the weekend of April 21/22.
 
The women’s eight, along with the men’s lightweight double scull crew of Tom Gibson (TAS) and Rod Chisholm (NSW), require a top two finish at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in order to qualify for London.
 
Jared Bidwell (QLD), who was selected in the men’s single scull, will also attend the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta, and will chase a top three finish to progress to his first Olympic Games.
 
A squad of five athletes has been selected in the men’s pair category that includes Brodie Buckland (NSW), James Marburg (VIC), Fergus Pragnell (NSW), Duncan Free (QLD) and Tom Larkins (VIC).
 
These athletes will continue to train over the coming five weeks before two pairs are selected to race at World Cup 2 in Lucerne (May 25-27).
 
Rowing Australia National High Performance Director Andrew Matheson said the team was already looking forward to the first international racing of the season.
 
“We are extremely happy with the final make-up of the team and can now really plan ahead for the next stage of our campaign,” Matheson said. “The training block before we leave Australia is extremely important and all athletes and coaches are well prepared to get the most out of each other during this period.
 
“Everyone is very much looking forward to testing their crews ahead of the international racing that starts in May.
 
Matheson continued by congratulating the three crews that would have the chance to qualify for London at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta.
 
“The women’s eight, men’s lightweight double scull and men’s single scull all have an opportunity to qualify for London,” Matheson added. “The nature of the regatta is extremely cut-throat, with only a minimal number of crews able to qualify.
 
“I am confident our crews will be given the best possible preparation ahead of this regatta and everyone will be cheering them on in Lucerne.”
 
All Australian crews will now complete a final five-week training block before attending a pre-departure camp in Sydney between May 8-12.
 
The Australian team departs for Europe on May 15 to compete at World Cup 2 and World Cup 3 in Munich, Germany (June 15-17) before the final team is nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee.
 
Whilst in Europe, the Australian team will base itself out of the Australian Institute of Sport’s European Training Centre in Varese, Italy.
 
 
2012 Australian Rowing Team

Artcile by Rowing Australia, Published 01/04/2012
 
Men’s Single Scull
Jared Bidwell (QLD)
 
Men’s Double Scull
Scott Brennan (TAS)
David Crawshay (VIC)
 
Men’s Quad Scull
Daniel Noonan (NSW)
Karsten Forsterling (VIC)
James McRae (SA)
Chris Morgan (SA)
 
Women’s Double Scull
Kim Crow (VIC)
Brooke Pratley (NSW)
 
Women’s Quad Scull
Kerry Hore (TAS)
Pippa Savage (QLD)
Pauline Frasca (VIC)
Dana Faletic (TAS)
 
Men’s Lightweight Double Scull
Tom Gibson (TAS)
Rod Chisholm (NSW)
 
Women’s Lightweight Double Scull
Bronwen Watson (NSW)
Hannah Every-Hall (QLD)
 
Men’s Coxless Pair (Squad)
Brodie Buckland (NSW)
James Marburg (VIC)
Duncan Free (QLD)
Fergus Pragnell (NSW)
Tom Larkins (VIC)
 
Men’s Coxless Four
Joshua Dunkley-Smith (VIC)
Drew Ginn (VIC)
James Chapman (NSW)
Will Lockwood (VIC)
 
Men’s Coxed Eight
Bryn Coudraye (SA)
Matt Ryan (NSW)
Nicholas Purnell (NSW)
Tom Swann (VIC)
Joshua Booth (VIC)
Cameron McKenzie-McHarg (VIC)
Francis Hegerty (NSW)
Sam Loch (NSW)
Toby Lister (NSW)
 
Women’s Coxless Pair
Kate Hornsey (TAS)
Sarah Tait (VIC)
 
Women’s Coxed Eight (Squad)
Phoebe Stanley (VIC)
Hannah Vermeersch (WA)
Alexandra Hagan (WA)
Sally Kehoe (QLD)
Tess Gerrand (NSW)
Renee Chatterton (SA)
Emma McCarthy (QLD)
Sarah Cook (NSW)
Amy Clay (NSW)
Robyn Selby Smith (VIC)
Lizzy Patrick (VIC)
 
Men’s Lightweight Coxless Four
Todd Skipworth (WA)
Ben Cureton (WA)
Sam Beltz (TAS)
Anthony Edwards (TAS)
 
Arms Only Men’s Single Scull
Erik Horrie (QLD)
 
Trunk and Arms Double Scull (Squad)
Kathryn Ross (VIC)
John Maclean (NSW
Gavin Bellis (VIC)
 
Media Contact: David Polglase 0401 453 041