Day 4 Results Summary - Thursday, 9 March 2000

After experiencing race delays two days in a row, racing finally got underway this afternoon in tail wind conditions. After heavy rains and tough head wind conditions, this afternoon's finals produced some interesting and some expected, results. Kate Slatter and Rachael Taylor in the women's pair is the first crew to gain recommendation for selection after winning their final. In the men's lightweight pair, men's lightweight single scull and women's lightweight single scull - if these crews combine in the four and double's respectively and win these finals (to be held on Saturday) they also will be recommended for selection.

Men's Senior A Coxless Pairs - Final
They've done it before, can they do it again. Rob Scott and David Weightman today won, throwing selection once more into disarray. Previous silver medallists in Atlanta, in the pair, Scott and Weightman threw down the challenge to favourites the Stewart twins who came third and Ben Dodwell and Bo Hanson who came second. They showed they are again back in form. This is Scott and Weightman's first win of the season coming third at the NSW State Championships back in January.

Scott and Weightman have been struggling since their impressive performances in 1996 to get back to form after having the year off after Atlanta. This opens selection up once again and all pairs will go through the second selection regatta to be held in April. For injured rowers, Drew Ginn (and pair partner James Tomkins) and Rob Walker (and pair partner Richard Wearne) it gives both of these crews a chance at recovery in time for challenging for selection at the next regatta in April and then May.

Women's Senior A Coxless Pairs - Final
Kate Slatter and her pair partner Rachael Taylor continued to dominate the women's pairs as they have been doing all season. Slatter who was half of the winning pair in Atlanta with Megan Still, has teamed up with a new pair partner, Rachael Taylor and her challenge to retain her Olympic gold is well on track. After today's win Kate and Rachael will be recommended for selection for the Sydney Olympics.

Second place getters Rachael Kinnimonth and third place getters Anna Ozolins and Jodi Winter will now go into selection for the women's eight. This will be raced out over the next two selection races.

Men's Senior A Single Scull - Final
Duncan Free again showed he is ahead of the men's single scull field. He was part of Australia's quad scull, which received bronze in the Atlanta Olympics. Today, he stamped his authority on men's sculling beating Jason Day by a boat length. Queensland sculler James Burton put in an impressive performance coming third and showing he is also on track for selection in the men's quad.

Peter Antonie continued his quest for inclusion in this years Olympic team coming 5th ahead of Stuart Reside who finished 6th.

Women's Senior A Single Scull - Final
It was in December last year that Bronwyn Roye couldn't walk. She was reduced to bed rest for a week after failing to compete at the December time trials due to a back injury. Here today we have seen a true champion. Bronwyn came back to convincingly beat Georgina Douglas by a boat length. Then it was clear water back to third place getter Marina Hatzakis. Ex-lightweight Rebecca Joyce put in an impressive performance against the heavyweights coming in fourth.

Bronywn and Marina will now combine to race the double scull on Saturday. They have been an established combination racing together for many years and again aiming for selection in the double for this years Olympics. With Douglas coming in between them though, she will be given the chance to seat race for a place in the double.

Men's Senior A Lightweight Single Scull - Final
In an expected result Hamish Karrasch won this event with Bruce Hick coming second in a tight finish with Tim Wise. Hamish and Bruce will now go on to race the lightweight double on Saturday. If they win this, they too will be recommended for selection.

Women's Senior A Lightweight Single Sculler - Final
The outcome of this race was a battle between last year's double scull partners, Sally Newmarch and Virginia Lee. Virginia Lee was the eventual winner with Sally coming in second. Catriona Roach gave Sally a good challenge ending up third. Virginia and Sally will now combine in the double sculls. If they win this event they will also be recommended for selection.

Men's Senior A Lightweight Coxless Pairs - Final
There were no surprises in this event with last years-silver medallists in the lightweight four coming first and second in their respective pairs. Anthony Edwards and Rob Richards narrowly beat their fellow team mates Darren Balmforth and Simon Burgess. These two crews will now go on to race in the lightweight four. If they win this they too will be recommended for selection in Australia's Sydney 2000 Olympic Team.

Tomorrow we will see the heats begin in the bigger boats being the fours, and double sculls. Hopefully these calm conditions which we are seeing this evening will prevail for tomorrow's racing.

Heidi Little and Michael Wilson