Rowing: Early head to head match up for champions

New Zealand Olympic teammates, Nathan Twaddle and Mahe Drysdale, go head to head today in the first heat of the men's premier single scull on the opening day of the national rowing championships at Lake Ruataniwha, Twizel.

Drysdale (West End RC), the 2003 single scull red coat champion lost his title to Twaddle (Auckland RC) last year on Lake Karapiro.

"Mahe has been training in Europe since the Olympics with some of the best scullers in the world and has made significant improvements to his technique since last year's championships," Twaddle said.

"He has expressed his desire to concentrate on the single scull event which will make him even more determined to regain his title."

Twaddle's Olympic pair partner, George Bridgewater (Canaviron RC), lines up in the second heat of the day and should comfortably proceed through to Thursday's semifinals.

Fifty-five clubs will contest the 79 heats to be raced today with repecharge heats scheduled tomorrow.

Finals will be raced on Friday and Saturday.

The feature event of today's racing will see last week's Halberg Award winners, Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell, step into the women's premier eight race, representing the Hamilton club.

- NZPA