WAIS Rowers Invited to Selection Trials
Following from last weekend’s Australian Rowing Championships in Adelaide, a group of WAIS athletes have been invited to contest the 2011 National Selection Trials in Penrith, Sydney.
WAIS scholarship holders Todd Skipworth, Ben Cureton, Ross Brown, Perry Ward and Alexandra Hagan will all via for selection into Australia’s World Championships team to compete in Bled, Slovenia from 28 August – 4 September.
Rowing Australia National High Performance Director Andrew Matheson said there were a number of impressive performances at the national titles.
“Across the week of racing we saw a lot of Olympic hopefuls show the selectors what they are capable of,” Matheson said. “A fair portion of the team that competed in Beijing is back in contention for London now, but we have seen the talent pool grow in the past two seasons and there is some good rivalry for seat positions now.
“2011 is obviously a very important year in relation to our success next year in London and we want to start forming the nucleus of our crews now. I expect there will be some pretty fierce racing and trialling in Sydney next month.”
Olympic gold medallists Drew Ginn (VIC) and Scott Brennan (TAS) are one step closer to returning to the Australian Rowing Team after being invited to contest the 2011 National Selection Trials next month in Sydney.
Ginn and Brennan have not rowed for Australia since the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, when Ginn claimed gold with Duncan Free (QLD) in the men’s pair, and Brennan combined with David Crawshay (VIC) to win gold in the men’s double scull.
The pair burst back onto the national scene last week at the 2011 Australian Rowing Championships with Ginn winning the men’s pair and men’s four, while Brennan teamed with Crawshay to win the men’s double scull.
Ginn and Brennan headline the 70 athletes that will contest selection for the Australian team to compete at the 2011 World Rowing Championships in Bled, Slovenia from 28 August – 4 September this year.
32 members of crews that competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games will battle for selection, as national selectors begin to formulate the backbone of their crews for London next year.
The women’s sculling group feature a strong mix of talent with Olympians Sally Kehoe (QLD), Kerry Hore (TAS), Pippa Savage (QLD), Kim Crow (TAS), Sarah Cook (ACT), Brooke Pratley (NSW) and AmyIves (NSW)all contesting selection.
Dual Olympian Sarah Tait (VIC) and Phoebe Stanley (VIC) remain well positioned to stay as the women’s pair for 2011 after their fourth place finish at the 2010 World Rowing Championships, but will face stiff competition from Pauline Frasca (VIC) and Kate Hornsey (TAS).
In the lightweight categories 16 men have been selected to trial, including all members of the men’s lightweight four and lightweight eight that won silver medals at last year’s World Championships. Hannah Every-Hall (QLD) and Alice McNamara (VIC) headline the women’s lightweight scullers and will aim to continue their success from 2010.
In the Paralympic boat classes, Ben Houlison (NSW) faces a challenge from Eric Horrie (QLD) to hold onto his position in the arms only men’s single scull, while 2008 Beijing Paralympian John Maclean (NSW) returns to the fold as he contests selection in the trunk and arms mixed double scull.
The 2011 National Selection Trials will be held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre from April 15-24 at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith.
The 2011 World Rowing Championships serves as the major qualification regatta for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
– Rowing Australia