Rowing: Learning mission for three crews

By JULIE ASH

New Zealand's up-and-coming rowers are not expecting miracles in next month's world junior championships, but they will be doing all they can to make their boats go faster.

A men's eight, a women's eight and single sculler Ryan Gaudin will compete in the championships in Duisburg, Germany, from August 7 to 11.

The men's eight have been based in Auckland, training under the watchful eye of coach Ross Tong, a member of the 1984 bronze medal-winning coxed fours.

He said the championships would be a huge learning curve for the rowers, all aged under 19.

Only two, Chris Ryburn and David Schumacher, had international experience. Both were in the eight who finished second in the Youth Olympics in Sydney. Ryburn was also in the second-placed four.

But despite the team's lack of international experience, Tong said, they had a winning attitude.

"They realise the only way to win is to make the boat go as fast as they can, and if that's not good enough then they have to come back and learn how to go faster. We are aiming for the final, but it's just one step at a time. You can't walk before you crawl."

The women's eight are coached by Richard Parr and are training in Christchurch.

The crew are loaded with national age group champions, but the most experienced is Darnelle Timbs, who was part of the pair who won gold in the Youth Olympics.

She is also a member of the New Zealand Rowing Academy.

"Our goal is to get to the final," Parr said.

The teams leave on July 28.

Men's eight: Scott Andrews (King's College), Schumacher (Auckland Rowing Club), Ryburn (Auckland Grammar), Andrew McGowan (St John's, Hamilton), James Kermode (Auckland RC), Ned Lee (Wellington College), George Bridgewater (Star Boating Club), Simon Lack (St John's College, Napier) and cox Jeffcoate Dickie (Wanganui Collegiate).

Women's team: Amber McKnight (West End), Amy Nixon (Rangi Ruru, Christchurch), Timbs (Gisborne), Fiona Paterson (Canterbury), Jenny Jackson (Craighead, Timaru), Cherie Crafar (Wairau), Kristie Weenick (Wanganui High School), Emma Feathery (Avonside), Sophie Wylie (cox, Westlake Girls High) and Rosiland Mitchell (Rangi Ruru).