Rowing: Rochelle rows her way around back problems

By Suzanne McFadden

Rochelle Saunders can't sit at a desk, and finds it intolerable to drive a car. But she can row.

The Cambridge sculler leaves today for the world rowing championships in Canada, hoping to put a nightmare back injury behind her.

Saunders has been suffering with a prolapsed disc in her spine - a mysterious injury she has no idea how she got.

But she has refused to let it stand in her way from teaming up with Sonia Waddell in the women's double scull to compete in two World Cup events and the world championships.

"Rowing has actually been very therapeutic," said 24-year-old Saunders. "It's really bizarre. I would be in real pain, then I'd go out rowing and think it was cured ... until a couple of hours later.

"My doctor and specialist don't understand it. But I'm not letting it get in my way."

Saunders had to cut down her desk job at her parents' recruitment consultancy because sitting was so painful, and driving was worse.

But an epidural injection has taken most of the pain away.

Saunders was not going to pass up an opportunity to compete at her first world championships.

The New Zealand selectors chose Saunders and Waddell to row the double scull together for the first time, even though they were trying out for the women's eight at the national trials.

Next week's World Cup in Austria will be their first major race. They will then compete in Lucerne on July 9 before the world championships in St Catherines, Canada, at the end of August.

They have been set a target to finish at least eighth at the worlds to qualify for next year's Olympics.

The pair, who believe the goal is realistic, are not strangers. They roomed together at last year's worlds, where Waddell (nee Scown) finished 10th in the women's single scull.

Saunders was team reserve, and got to row in the "spares" race for reserves, finishing second.

"I'm really green about all this, but I have Ma and Pa Waddell to look after me," Saunders laughs. "Pa" Waddell is Sonia's husband, Rob - world singles scull champion no less.

The New Zealand Sportsman of the Year will also race at the two World Cup events, along with lightweight sculler Calvin Fergusson.

The rest of the New Zealand team - the men's coxless four, the women's eight and women's coxless pair - will meet up with them in Canada.