Rowing: Another trial for lightweight rowers

5.00pm

Lightweight rowers Carolyn Steele and Rachel Starr will be given another chance for a shot at the final Olympic qualification regatta in Lucerne Switzerland in June.

The board of Rowing New Zealand (RNZ) yesterday upheld the lightweight scullers appeal to re-trial after illness prevented them from competing at the final Olympic trial at Lake Karapiro two weeks ago.

Craig Ross, RNZ chief executive, said today the board had accepted the decision by the sport's ombudsman that every elite athlete in New Zealand should be given the best possible opportunity for Olympic selection.

The women's appeal went to the ombudsman, Gerry Dwyer, a Christchurch solicitor and also a board member, last week.

Steele (nee Forlong) and former Canadian international Starr, who row for Auckland's West End, claimed that they should have the opportunity of a another trial in front of the national selectors.

The pair finished second behind world champions Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell of Hamilton in the premier women's double sculls at the recent national championships but are hoping to qualify in the lightweight event.

Ross said the scullers would be required to perform a series of time trials to allow the selectors to assess their performance and determine if competing at the final Olympic qualification regatta in Switzerland was an option.

- NZPA