Rowing: NZ can dominate worlds - Drysdale

By David Leggat

NZ Herald·

28 Aug, 2015 09:38 PM5 mins to read

Mahe Drysdale says this is the strongest team the country has ever had. Photo / Christine Cornege

Mahe Drysdale is buzzing ahead of the world championships, starting in France tomorrow night.

But it's not just his own situation which has the big single sculling maestro particularly chipper.

At the most recent world cup regatta in Lucerne last month, New Zealand won 11 medals - six gold, three silver, two bronze - and retained their crown as the world's best rowing nation, despite only contesting two of the three World Cups.

With the sport in this country on a serious high, New Zealand are on track for a terrific Olympic Games in Rio next year. But there are no guarantees and first things first, Aiguebelette is the next step on the ladder, and it's Olympic qualifying time.

New Zealand are targeting a place on the startline in all 14 Olympic classes in Rio. The signs are massively encouraging.

"I'm hugely excited about the potential of what we can achieve," Drysdale, the defending Olympic champion and winner of five world titles, said. "Lucerne was out of this world really, medals across the board and young guys stepping up and performing on one of the biggest stages.

"If we repeat that [Lucerne] it'll be the best world championships we've ever had. Then we build the momentum, keep pushing but this is certainly the strongest team we've ever had."

Simply qualifying for Rio should be an uncomplicated business for several New Zealand crews for whom victory is the objective.

Among those who face an intriguing week of racing are the smallest women, lightweight double scullers Julia Edward and Sophie Mackenzie.

They will enter their heat as defending champions after a remarkable regatta in Amsterdam a year ago. The pair had spent only five weeks together, after Edward's original partner, Lucy Strack, withdrew.

No matter, Mackenzie, fresh off winning the world under-23 gold, slotted in neatly at short notice and they won in a world best time.

This year they were beaten by British pair Charlotte Taylor and Katharine Copeland in the second cup regatta in Italy but rebounded to win in Lucerne. A couple of other crews are lurking too and Edward knows a tough battle is ahead to retain their title.

This week she reflected on events in Amsterdam.

"We just clicked as soon as we started training together. I had a good feeling about it and after our heat I knew we were definitely in the mix."

Edward, from Rotorua, has been an ever present in the elite group since the London Olympics 2012 with three different partners, Strack, Louise Ayling, Strack again and now Marlborough's Mackenzie.

Mackenzie, in the bow seat, also won gold at the world under-23 champs last year before stepping up. Edwards quipped Mackenzie makes her life easy.

"All I have to do is sit there, set the rhythm and keep calm. I am very confident having her behind me that she can take control of the race."

The entire squad has regrouped after having several weeks split in two for training camps. The vibe is good, as should be expected. Success does that.

"Everybody is pretty excited, and confident but in the back of our minds we know what we have to do so there are a bit of nerves going around the camp," Edward said. "We're conscious people are going to be on edge in the next couple of weeks."

Edward and Mackenzie, with a handful of other rowers, are off to Rio after the worlds to check out the Olympic venue.

But that's for later. Lightweight singles Adam Ling and Zoe McBride are first in action in their heats tomorrow night (NZT) with eight other crews in action later in the day.

Kiwis to contest 14 classes at world champs

New Zealand will contest all 14 Olympic boat classes, plus two non-Olympic, at the world championships starting in Aiguebelette, France tomorrow night.

The championships are this year's qualifying regatta for the Rio Olympics next year.

Men

Single scull (Mahe Drysdale) 41 entries, nine Olympic qualifying spots

Double scull (Robbie Manson and Chris Harris) 29, 11

Lightweight double scull (Peter Taylor and Hayden Cohen) 33, 11

Coxless pair (Eric Murray and Hamish Bond) 27, 11

Quad (John Storey, George Bridgewater, Jade Uru, Karl Manson) 16, 8

Four (Anthony Allen, Alex Bardoul, Bobby Kells, Finn Howard) 21, 11

Lightweight four (James Hunter, Alastair Bond, James Lassche, Curtis Rapley) 24, 11

Eight (Stephen Jones, Brook Robertson, Alex Kennedy, Joe Wright, Isaac Grainger, Shaun Kirkham, Michael Brake, Tom Murray, Caleb Shepherd cox) 13, 5

Women

Single scull (Fiona Bourke) 35, 9