KEY POINTS:
Triple world champion rower Mahe Drysdale says if he loses the Olympic single-sculls berth to arch-rival Rob Waddell, he would rather row for New Zealand in a crew boat at Beijing than compete for Australia.
Waddell, on the comeback trail, beat Drysdale in the Cambridge Town Cup single sculls final at Lake Karapiro yesterday - but the margin between them was one second, a big improvement from Drysdale on their first meeting about six weeks ago when Waddell won by four seconds.
The pair are headed for a showdown to represent New Zealand in the single sculls at Beijing, with the position likely to be decided after the national trials in March.
Melbourne-born rower Drysdale has been vocal in his opposition to having to wait that long for the decision is made - not wanting to peak for that and then peak again for the Olympics in August.
Drysdale scoffed at claims made yesterday that overtures had been made on his behalf to Rowing Australia about the possibility of competing for that country should he miss out on the singles berth. A looseness in the eligibility rules means it is a possibility and Rowing Australia has admitted it has discussed the prospect, the Herald On Sunday reported.
But Drysdale said the report was news to him today and he had not considered rowing for Australia.
"I don't know where that come from, it didn't come from me," hesaid. "It is really just speculation."
"I really don't know if it is possible - I think once you have represented a country then you are bound a little bit to that country. My goal is to make sure I am selected for New Zealand, that is where my passion lies. If it did not work out, I would have to assess my options. If that is an option then perhaps, but I am more likely to go into a crew boat and hopefully win another gold for New Zealand."
Drysdale said he was pleased with his performance yesterday compared to his first race against Waddell in December.
"It was pretty good. I felt I was more competitive than six weeks ago so that is always a positive, going in the right direction heading into the sharp end of the season."
In the third quarter of today's 2000m race, Drysdale led Waddell, clearing ahead of lightweight Peter Taylor, but Waddell drew alongside with 500m to go and 200m later had established clear water.
Drysdale fought back strongly over the closing stages, finishing a length behind the former Olympic champion. Waddell won in seven minutes 23.69 seconds, 0.99 secs ahead of Drysdale.
"It was a close race, and probably both of us still have some more to give," said Drysdale. He said he would now start thinking about his training with the national championships coming up before the Olympic trials in March.
Drysdale doesn't doubt his ability to beat Waddell. "It's never been a question in my mind that I can beat him right. It is just what the price of doing that is going to have on my development later down the track. Obviously I have to put that out of my mind now and just get on with the job and make sure I am in shape to win in March.
The pair will clash again in next weekend's North Island championships on Karapiro and then the national championships two weeks later.
Waddell said today he had lost 20 kilograms since taking up rowing after a seven-year absence during which he sailed for Team New Zealand in two America's Cup campaigns.
He said their rivalry was great for rowing. "It's a great race to be in, it's very exciting. It's neat to look across at the bank and see the number of people here and listen to the crowd. It's really good for rowing in New Zealand."
In the top women's single sculls event, the Evers-Swindell twins ruled the roost, with Caroline beating Georgina and Emma Twigg a close-up third. The Evers-Swindells later won the double sculls.
- NZPA
