Rowing New Zealand names coaches for 2016
Eight coaches have been named to take charge of Rowing New Zealand crews for the 2016 elite campaign.
The selected coaches will be assigned their crews at the conclusion of the Rowing New Zealand trials which are to take place at Lake Karapiro from 27 February – 4 March.
At the 2015 World Rowing Championships Rowing New Zealand successfully qualified nine boats (and a total of 33 athletes) for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and will look to qualify more at the qualification regatta in May. At the 2012 London Olympic Games the team was made up of eleven crews and 26 athletes.
With five crews still to qualify (W1x, M4x, M4-, W4x, LM2x) High Performance Director Alan Cotter said, “Crews selected to attend the Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne will be determined by their performances over summer until the end of the trial.
We are still optimistic the goal of qualifying and fielding 14 boats in Rio is possible.”
There is a possibility some Rowing New Zealand coaches will take charge of both qualified and non-qualified crews in the build up to Rio.
Elite team athlete reserves for the European campaign will be selected at the Elite trial in March. The final make-up of the reserves for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, will be confirmed after the second World Cup in Lucerne.
The Under 23 and Junior coaches will be named at their respective trials.
Rowing New Zealand wishes to congratulate the selected coaches on their appointment.
Qualified Crews
Noel Donaldson
Calvin Ferguson
Gary Hay
Dave Thompson
Richard Tonks
Non-Qualified Crews
Mike Rodger
James Coote
Gary Roberts