Day 5 Results Summary - Friday, 10 March 2000

Senior A Selection Races

After much disruption to events over the previous two days, racing today got under way in near perfect conditions. Today we have seen another Olympic crew being nominated for selection with the superior performance of last years silver medallists in the lightweight coxless men's four combination winning their final. This evening we have also seen the preliminary heats of both the schoolboy's and schoolgirls eight being raced.

Men's Senior A Coxless Pair - heat
The UTS crew of Ben Dodwell, Bo Hanson and Geoff and James Stewart dominated their heat today, showing people a glimpse of the form which placed them second at last years World Championships. They easily won their heat to progress into tomorrow's final. In the other heat the visiting crew from New Zealand were also impressive with a finish time 10 seconds quicker than in the previous heat.

An interesting outcome was the four combination which included Oarsome Foursome member, Mike McKay and his new pair partner, which did not qualify to go through to the finals.

Apart from this, the final tomorrow looks set to be a showdown between the UTS Aussie four and the New Zealand four (who also represented at last years World Championships).

Men's Senior A Double Scull - heat
Yesterday's single scull champion Duncan Free today joined Stuart Reside to win heat one today. Stuart is trying to regain fitness and form after being forced to take time out of the boat in November last year to have a knee operation. In heat two, Duncan's brother Marcus joined Justin Sires to win this heat and post the fastest time for the double sculls heats. In the third heat veteran rower Peter Antonie teamed up with Craig Jones to win their heat, just one second behind Marcus and Justin.

From the results today, this will be a very close race to watch tomorrow.

Women's Senior A Double Scull - heat
The established combination of Bronywn Roye and Marina Hatzakis who have been together since Atlanta easily won their heat to progress through to the final. Roye yesterday retain her National single scull title after narrowly defeating Georgina Douglas.

In heat two Georgina combined with Monique Heinke to win their heat by 3 boat lengths - although posted a slightly slower time than in the first heat.

Roye and Hatzakis will be using this final tomorrow to win and give selectors further evidence that they should stay together in their established doubles combination.

Men's Senior A Lightweight Double Scull - heat
There were no surprises in heat one with last year's bronze medallists in the lightweight double Bruce Hick and Hamish Karrasch easily winning. In heat two Karl Parker and Shane Broad also won their heat. They will have a very tough race on their hands to take on Hick and Karrasch in tomorrow's final.

If Hick and Karrasch win their final they will go on to be nominated for Olympic selection.

Women's Senior A Lightweight Double Scull - heat
Again there were very few surprises in this event with Sally Newmarch and Virginia Lee combining to easily take out heat one. Virginia yesterday won the National lightweight single scull title with Sally coming in second. If they too win their final tomorrow they will become the 4th crew to be nominated for Olympic selection.

In heat two the Sydney combination of Catriona Roach and Zita Van De Walle won their heat. As in the men's lightweight event it will be a tough race for these two to challenge the established double of Lee and Newmarch in tomorrows final.

Women's Senior A Coxless Four - final
Yesterday's winning pair combination of Kate Slatter and Rachael Taylor today combined with Anna Ozolins and Jodi Winter to take out this event. Slatter and Taylor by winning the pair have already been selected for the pair for the Olympics. The rest of the women's pairs will now contest for a seat in the women's eight, which has qualified for the Olympics.

Men's Senior A Coxless Four - final
Again another established crew again stamped their dominance over the field. The crew of Anthony Edwards, Rob Richards, Darren Balmforth and Simon Burgess who also medalled at the World Championships last year today finalised their selection process. By coming first and second in yesterdays pair races and by winning today they will go for selection nomination.

Hopefully we have seen the end of the windy conditions which prevailed earlier on in the week and this should provide some good conditions for some interesting racing tomorrow with several crews looking at achieving Olympic selection if they win their finals.

We also see the action increasing with the schoolboy and schoolgirl races coming in the semi finals.

See you tomorrow

Michael Wilson and Heidi Little