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Rowing New Zealand selectors will face the devil of a decision when Rob Waddell and Mahe Drysdale renew their rivalry at the national trials.
Sculling giants Waddell and Drysdale return to Lake Karapiro, scene of last year's epic Olympic trial, from Sunday for what shapes as a death or glory duel for the 2009 international singles seat.
Both have made it clear the single sculls is their clear preference for World Cup regattas in Munich and Lucerne and the world championships at Poznan, Poland, in late August.
It means whoever misses selection may not feature at all when the team is unveiled on March 6.
Drysdale put himself in pole position with a dominant win at the national championships on Lake Ruataniwha near Twizel yesterday.
A blistering final 1000m saw the three-time world champion eclipse Sydney Olympic champion Waddell by five seconds, a margin eerily similar to Waddell's winning margin over Drysdale at last year's nationals.
Drysdale then went on to edge their three-match trial duel 2-1, earning the Olympic singles berth when Waddell's heart condition caught up with him in the third race.
Waddell was willing to then compromise to compete at the Beijing Olympics, teaming with Nathan Cohen in the double sculls.
But RNZ high performance manager Alan Cotter indicated the 34-year-old was not so flexible this time.
"He's certainly after the single scull, that's where he wants to be," Cotter said. "The selectors will have to work that through over the coming week."
Drysdale has previously said he would consider not rowing for New Zealand this year if not named as a single sculler.
Cotter could not say if the same best-of-three trial method would be used again.
He intimated that Drysdale had the inside running after his brilliant winning time of 6m 47.32s on the way to a fifth national crown yesterday.
But there is ample room for improvement from Waddell, whose buildup was disrupted by his involvement with the Team New Zealand yachting crew in this month's Pacific Series off Auckland.
"Mahe certainly had a good row and is a good chance," Cotter said. "But the national champs is one regatta, something you take into consideration going into the trial situation."
Waddell acknowledged the task in front of him.
"There's only one spot for the world champs and there are two guys who want it. I've got a big hill to climb."
Drysdale was delighted with his time, praising an extended off-season break since Beijing and technical improvements under coach Dick Tonks.
Meanwhile, Cotter pronounced himself pleased with the overall standard, believing a new wave of rowers was emerging after the retirement or absence of several experienced names since the Olympic Games.
Beijing competitors Eric Murray, Hamish Bond and Nathan Cohen were impressive while several under-23 and lightweight men were now making their presence felt, Cotter said.
The victorious Southern men's eight comprised four lightweights yet clocked an excellent 5m 33s.
"We're filling the base not only in the elite men and women but we're looking at that lightweight side fairly seriously," Cotter said. "Hopefully they trial well and we try to get some fast crews there."
Olympic single sculler Emma Twigg is a logical single-sculls selection but Cotter hoped to fill at least the women's pairs and double sculls boats as well.
"The small boats are the priority and we'll see what's possible beyond that."
- NZPA
