KEY POINTS:
The word around rowing circles in recent times has been that three-time world champion single sculler Mahe Drysdale was likely to claim the sole spot for the Beijing Olympics because of arch-rival Rob Waddell's enormous talent and versatility. Yesterday's assured win by Waddell at the national championships might have sunk that.
The theory doing the rounds was that Drysdale is an out-and-out single sculler; and that Waddell has such raw power, technique and flexibility that you could put him in a bathtub and he'd threaten the Olympics. So Waddell might easier be routed to a crew boat whereas Drysdale might not so easily make the change.
It's a good theory, with good thinking and good man-management principles. But Waddell almost towed that theory up Lake Karapiro and drowned it when he convincingly beat Drysdale by three lengths in an end-to-end display of power and technique.
"I'm just worrying about myself and looking to keep my boat speed improving all the time," said Waddell, who won his first national title in 1995. "It means a lot, this one."
This was such a convincing win before the first of the best-of-three races between the two to decide who gets the single spot that rowing's selectors might be facing an unpalatable prospect.
If Waddell continues in this vein, leaving him out of the single sculls will be controversial.
The selectors have discretion; the race results are not necessarily the be-all and end-all surrounding the selection - Rowing New Zealand's desire to hold the next two races in secret underlines that.
"That was pretty abysmal actually," Drysdale said of his own performance.
"I'm not used to going out there and having a bad race and today, from the first stroke really, it didn't go to plan.
"I'm going to go and have a think about it, probably watch a video and just see what's going on but that was a pretty shocking performance by my standards."
Drysdale had to work hard to hold out fast-finshing Southlander Nathan Cohen in third place but it was the excellence of Waddell that will be playing on his mind.
"Rob just got out in front and just absolutely dominated me today," he admitted.
The tension around the racing and the rivalry is affecting more than just the two scullers. It's unlikely to be Waddell or Drysdale who are actually axed from the Beijing squad. Spaces would be found for both. The athlete who misses could end up in the double sculls with either of the incumbents Matthew Trott or Cohen.
Trott and Cohen qualified the double sculls boat with their sixth at the world championships in Munich and then defended their title at the nationals.
Trott said: "We've got to do our job as though we'll be in the boat. We can't wait to consider what Rob's going to do."
Trott is reluctant to lean either way as to who will gain the single sculls berth, laughing off attempts to lure a confession.
"I don't want to go there. I could be shooting myself in the foot, given I could have to work with one of them.
"It is a point of massive interest, though, certainly not restricted to this country. Hundreds of people are talking about it in the rowing world through the internet so it's a pretty special situation."
Cohen has also recognised their frailties.
"Coming into trials next week, we're going to be right up against it. But in the last month we've had some great training after being down over Christmas - we're ready to go now."
Also of relevance at the current nationals is the anonymity of the world championship silver medal winning men's pair Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater.
The mixed combinations of the men's four took gold and silver - Carl Meyer and Hamish Bond beating Eric Murray and James Dallinger while Twaddle and Rob Hellstrom took third.
The Bond and Meyer combination meant Bridgewater couldn't even find a suitable partner at the Southern Regional Performance Centre to enter, despite competing in other events - even though the giant Bridgewater is rated as a strong and gifted rower.
While emotion has poured into this contest, it's not swaying ultimate judges such as selector and head coach Dick Tonks.
"Nothing has changed regarding the decision." he said. "It will be based on the three races at trials. The national championship result might provide momentum to an athlete but it is no indication of who will be picked."
The Beijing squad is revealed on March 7. Other results were largely expected, with Waikato crews winning the men's eights and coxed fours finals.
Auckland had more influence in the women's crew races, with former world champions Nicky Coles and Juliette Haigh winning the pairs and forming part of the successful eights.
- Paul Lewis, NZPA
