Rowing: Champions leave for world stage brimming with confidence

Mahe Drysdale (left) and the rest of last year's World Champs gold medallists are heading for Europe. Picture / Kenny Rodger

New Zealand's best rowers head for Europe this week determined to reinforce their standing as one of the sport's dominant nations.

Head coach Dick Tonks believes the self-assurance is growing in the elite group on the back of their stunning four gold medals at last year's world championships in Gifu, Japan.

"We try to treat each year one year at a time, but certainly there's more confidence," he said yesterday.

"And when new people come in, what we hope is they pick up on the positives. If you're rowing for New Zealand, it's assumed you're going to do well. We've got a bit of momentum now; we've just got to keep it going."

Tonks flies to Europe today, with the bulk of the rowers departing on Friday for World Cup regattas in Poznan, Poland starting next Thursday and in Lucerne, Switzerland from July 7-9.

From there, they head to the Czech Republic for a training camp at Racice, before a couple of weeks in Belgium completing preparations for the world champs, which start at Eton on August 20.

Tonight, Rowing New Zealand expects to be popping champagne corks at news it has secured the hosting rights for the 2010 world champs at Lake Karapiro.

It's undoubtedly a good time to be part of New Zealand rowing. Former Olympic silver medallist Tonks has been involved in coaching the country's top rowers since 1994. He can't remember a better period in those 12 years than now. He has picked up a different vibe among the squad from a year ago, pre-Gifu.

"Everybody's a lot keener and it has reflected through the grades down to the [premier secondary schools regatta] Maadi Cup. The standard this year was a step up to what it's been in the past and there is a good feeling in rowing at present."

The four world champions are back defending their titles - single sculler Mahe Drysdale, coxless pair combinations Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater, and Juliette Haigh and Nicky Coles, and double scull Olympic champions Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell - as well as a coxless four, an under 23 men's coxed four and - most interestingly - a women's eight.

They are a young crew, but Tonks, who is overseeing their campaign, likes what he sees.

"When Conrad Robertson, the chief selector, picks crews, it's with the expectation they can make their final," he said.

"That's our guideline, and then that they compete well in the final. There may be only eight or nine crews in their event, but you can throw a blanket over the lot, so it's got to be on form on the day."

And that's what Tonks masterminded last year when he had the nation's best peaking at precisely the right time. Four golds in 45 minutes ranks among the country's great sporting achievements.

Tonks is optimistic the squad - with lightweight single sculler Duncan Grant a late addition for the world championship leg of the trip - is well placed to be a force again this year.

He's a great believer in the powerful mental imagery of the black singlet out in front.

Tonks isn't talking about four more golds at Eton, but he's confident New Zealand rowers will be there or thereabouts again.