Rowing: Twins scoop world crew award

The accolades keep flowing for New Zealand rowing after Olympic and world champion double sculls pair Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell were named female crew of the year today.

The identical twins, 27, scooped their second International Rowing Federation (FISA) award two days after their mentor and New Zealand head coach Richard Tonks was named coach of the year.

The Cambridge-based twins first won female crew of the year in 2003, and claimed their third world championship medal at Gifu, Japan last month.

On that day New Zealand won a record four gold medals with victory in the men's pair, men's single, women's pair to accompany the Evers-Swindell's success.

The Evers-Swindell sisters gained the top spot in the women's double in 2002 and have remained there ever since.

The duo won their first world championship gold in 2002, followed by victory in 2003.

They reinforced their authority on the women's double with gold at the Athens Olympics last year.

In addition to being successful in the double, the twins have also tasted success individually.

This sibling rivalry has also helped Georgina become the fastest woman in the world on the indoor rowing machine.

She currently holds the world record for women over the simulated 2000 metre ergometer distance.

New Zealand's golden twins were named athlete ambassadors for New Zealand's 2010 world championship hosting rights bid and depart tomorrow for the awards gala and the world rowing forum in Turkey on November 5.

- NZPA