Rowing: Germans get early look at Karapiro

Rowing on Lake Karapiro. Photo / Martin Sykes

New Zealand rowing officials aren't holding their breath for more overseas interest in next month's national championships at Lake Karapiro.

Equally, the door will be open as long as practically possible for those countries wanting to check out facilities and the water before the world championships on the same lake in the first week of November.

Rowing New Zealand were surprised to get an email at the weekend from their German counterparts confirming they are sending seven rowers and two coaches to attend the nationals from February 16-20.

"We were surprised in terms of the late notice," Rowing New Zealand chief executive Simon Peterson said last night.

"The Germans and the Belgians were the two we had early expressions of interest from. But we hadn't heard from them for some time, so we made the assumption they'd put it into the too-hard basket.

"There were rumours the Australians might come over as well. But there's nothing else at this stage."

The German contingent will be spearheaded by flamboyant single sculler Marcel Hacker - among four-time world champion Mahe Drysdale's toughest international rivals over the past five years - and includes crews for two events in which Germany won the world title in Poland last September, the lightweight four and double scull.

If the double comprises the formidable pair of Eric Knittel and Stephen Krueger, it could set up a fascinating battle with New Zealand's Nathan Cohen and Matthew Trott, who finished fourth to the Germans in Poland.

The world champs are at Lake Karapiro from the end of October this year, the second time they have been staged in New Zealand, and the first since 1978.

Alongside New Zealand, Germany were the best performed nation in Poland.

Both won three titles of the 14 Olympic classes on the programme, and four on the 22-event regatta overall.

Getting from Europe to New Zealand presents logistical difficulties and the European rowers will be out of season.

But it's an indication that the Germans want to leave nothing to chance in their campaign for success this year.

Peterson said fitting international crews into the nationals was reasonably straightforward "and we'd do what we could to accommodate them, but time is ticking".

The logistics of getting to New Zealand were more difficult for the Europeans, who have long been the power base of the sport.

As for Australia, their high performance programme is run by RNZ's former high performance boss Andrew Matheson.

Said Peterson: "He'll know the ins and outs of the nationals over here, and it's not such a big deal in terms of logistics for them."