Rob Waddell at Lake Karapiro. Photo / Sarah Ivey
The hotly contested single sculls Olympic berth will come down to a deciding race after world rowing champion Mahe Drysdale was beaten on the second of two trial races on Lake Karapiro today.
Olympic gold medallist Rob Waddell, who is making a comeback to the sport after his
two America's Cup yachting campaigns, surged over the line only half a length ahead of Drysdale to square the trial race series at 1-1.
On a ruffled lake surface the two rowers were even for most of the course, with some commentators believing Drysdale would win and cement his Olympic berth. However, in the final stages of the race, Waddell held onto his slender lead and crossed first.
The third race at Lake Karapiro tomorrow is likely to decide who will go to the Beijing Olympics later this year to represent New Zealand in the singles sculls.
The squad is due to be announced on Friday.
Last month Waddell rowed away from three-time world champion Drysdale in an emphatic, three-length win in the men's single sculls final at the national championships on Karapiro.
Yesterday, in the first of the best of three national trial races between the two oarsmen, Drysdale powered away to win by a length and a half on a flat, calm Lake Karapiro.
In race one, the two were neck and neck over the first 1000m before Drysdale nosed ahead where he remained, winning comfortably.
Yesterday he said his three-length loss to Waddell at the national championships last month was a "bad day at the office".
But Drysdale said after he beat Waddell in the first of the trial races, he was sure Waddell would not give up without a fight.
Selectors Conrad Robertson, Dick Tonks and Athol Earl will announce the New Zealand rowing squad for Beijing on Friday.
- NZPA
