Rowing: Drysdale beats Waddell on first day of trials

Mahe Drysdale edged Rob Waddell in today's head-to-head single sculls trial by about a length. Photo / Getty Images

Mahe Drysdale today beat archrival Rob Waddell in a head-to-head single sculls race on the opening day of the national rowing trials on Lake Karapiro.

The margin was described as being about a length.

The national selectors have been tight-lipped about the format for the trials and Rowing New Zealand advised that today's race was going ahead only just over an hour before the start.

RNZ high performance manager Alan Cotter said whether Drysdale and Waddell would row against each other again this week was up to the selectors.

"It's a trial and the selectors still have to decide on that," he said.

Cotter didn't follow this morning's contest, which involved just Drysdale and Waddell, but said conditions were good, with flat water and a slight breeze down the course.

The New Zealand team to travel to Europe is expected to be named on Friday.

One possibility mooted is for the selectors to send both Drysdale and Waddell to the World Cup events, after which a decision would be made on who would race in the world championships in Poland in August.

Last month, Drysdale also beat Waddell, the 2000 Olympic champion, at the national championships on Lake Ruataniwha in South Canterbury.

That meeting was the first between the pair since their gripping duel for the single sculls berth in New Zealand's team for the Beijing Olympics.

Drysdale came out on top in that showdown at the corresponding national trials last March after Waddell's heart condition resurfaced.

In Beijing, Drysdale battled a stomach bug and vomiting to claim bronze in the single sculls.

Waddell rowed in the double sculls with Nathan Cohen, making the final but missing out on a medal.

A member of Team New Zealand's past two America's Cup yachting campaigns, Waddell put his rowing preparations on hold by helping Team NZ to win the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in Auckland last month.

- NZPA