Rowing: NZ four and pair in finals

By JULIE ASH

Two New Zealand crews are through to the finals of the world rowing championships in Lucerne, Switzerland.

The women's coxless four of Rochelle Saunders, Kate Robinson, Jackie Abraham and Nicki Coles won their heat on Rotsee Lake yesterday to proceed to the final on Sunday morning (NZT) where Australia loom as the threat.

The New Zealanders won their heat in 6m 35.33s to qualify second fastest behind Australia (6:31.55).

Twins Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell won their heat of the women's double sculls, prevailing after a neck and neck battle with Ekaterina Karsten and Volha Berazniova of Belarus, who beat them in the recent World Cup event.

The pairs were locked together for 1250m before the Kiwis finally pulled away over the last 500m to cross in 6m 51.95s. Germany won the other heat and were marginally faster than New Zealand, recording 6m 51.24s.

Rowing New Zealand chief executive Mike Stanley said the crews were confident before the championships after their results in last month's World Cup event in Germany where the women's coxless four finished second, the Evers-Swindells third, the women's quadruple second and the men's coxless four second in the B-final.

"The form they had from the World Cup and how they have been training shows they are capable of good results," he said.

The finals are not until Sunday morning (NZT), giving both crews the chance to "tidy a few things up".

"It is a nice position to be in. The key for them is not to lose their edge but at the same time to relax and sit back and watch the other crews go through the repechage."

The men's coxless four of Rob Hellstrom, Sam Earl, Ian Smallman and Jaime Fitzgerald finished third in their heat behind Olympic champions Great Britain in the fastest of the two heats.

New Zealand recorded the sixth fastest time overall and must now finish in the top two in their repechage tomorrow morning (NZT).