Rowing: Slow start for Kiwi rowers

New Zealand crews made a slow start at the final Olympic qualifying regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland, yesterday.

Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, who won the second round of the World Cup in Vienna last month, had to be content with third in their heat of the women's double sculls, behind Romania and Hungary. That relegated them to this morning's repechage where they have to finish in the top two to qualify for tomorrow's final.

The sisters started strongly, but could not match the pace of the leaders in the middle stages. They made a comeback over the final quarter.

The New Zealand men's coxless pair of Steve Westlake and Bryce Mael also finished third and were to contest this morning's repechages.

They found the pace too quick at the start, but rallied strongly.

Two crews will qualify for the Olympics in both events.

Meanwhile, world champion Rob Waddell has rubbished his second placing in the World Cup final last month and promised to improve in Switzerland this weekend.

"I finished behind (reigning Olympic champion) Xeno Mueller in Vienna and I was pretty average really," the 25-year-old said.

"I have a bit of improving to do. I had a tough semifinal the night before (last month's final). I was winning it easily when I blew up chronically in the last 50-100m. It may have been the travelling, but physically it was unavoidable."

Waddell said he lost confidence before the Vienna final. He was not mentally "up" for the race and it showed on the day.

His time of 7min 36.52sec saw him lag 1.7s behind Mueller, the Atlanta Olympic gold medallist from Switzerland.

"The focus is the Olympics but I want to do well on the way and hope to go better this weekend," he said.

"I just want to be solid this weekend to confirm where I am at after a couple of hard weeks training. I will be aiming to keep my rating up."

- REUTERS

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