Hawke's Bay rower Tom Mackintosh admitted it was tough sacrificing a European holiday to attend last weekend's national elite trials.
"It was bitter-sweet coming back early but it all paid off," Mackintosh said after being named in the New Zealand men's coxless four for next month's world championships in Plodiv, Bulgaria.
Mackintosh had planned a holiday in Europe after last month's world under-23 championships in Poland where he was a member of the Kiwi men's coxless four which won bronze. Those plans were postponed when he was selected for the elite trials.
"We trialled against the existing elite squad and although we were still jetlagged after arriving back in the country a day or two earlier it all panned out. I was very stoked," Mackintosh said.
"There's a great dynamic to our crew. There's a lot of spark and fire there," Mackintosh explained.