Rowing: British pullout boost for rowers

Rowing New Zealand chief executive Simon Peterson. Photo / APN

New Zealand's prospects of a decent medal haul at their opening World Cup rowing regatta in Hamburg this weekend have increased after the withdrawal of the British squad.

Britain pulled out over fears surrounding the E. coli bacteria outbreak in Germany which has claimed 37lives and affected more than 3200 people.

Rowing New Zealand chief executive Simon Peterson last night confirmed his organisation went to considerable lengths to check the situation in Hamburg.

They received information from a range of sources, included rowing's governing body, Fisa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the World Health Organisation, before confirming New Zealand's participation.

As late as last Monday, RNZ received another confirmation from Fisa that the regatta would go ahead. Fisa has confirmed that extra care has been taken with food and drink around the venue.

"We've taken all the precautions we could," Peterson said.

"We've looked into it thoroughly. We are staying at a Fisa-accredited hotel and we have confirmed with our athletes and team management on site that it's safe to go."

Hygiene around food and drink is being rammed home although, as Peterson said, "That's pretty much normal practice for elite athletes. We work on a pretty strict hygiene regime anyway, so it's not out of the ordinary for us."

Peterson felt Britain made an early call to withdraw. They had contested the opening World Cup regatta in Munich late last month - which New Zealand did not - and wondered if the fact that they had "one under their belt" also played a part in their rationale.

"But we're more than comfortable with the decision we've made," he added.

Britain rank as New Zealand's strongest rival ahead of the world championships in Bled, Slovenia, starting on August 28, which double as the Olympic qualifying regatta.

Britain won 12 medals at last year's worlds on Lake Karapiro, two more than New Zealand and three more than the Germans, with those three countries well clear of the rest.

In Munich, Britain won five titles: the men's and women's coxless pair - events where New Zealand boast the world champions, Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, and Juliette Haigh and Rebecca Scown - the men's coxless four, and women's double and lightweight double sculls.

The New Zealand squad have had a limited preparation ahead of the start of racing tomorrow night, having left Auckland only last Friday.

Nine crews will contest the regatta, with a further five arriving in time for the third cup regatta, at Lucerne, on July 8-10.