Rowing NZ Elite Team Announcement
The 2018 Rowing NZ Elite team contesting the World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria was named today at an announcement at Lake Karapiro.
High Performance Director Alan Cotter was today relieved to have the team selected. “We saw an impressive performance from New Zealand during this year’s World Rowing Cup II and III, and we’re confident we’re presenting an even stronger front for the World Championships. Despite training throughout New Zealand’s winter, we topped the medal table in Europe at World Rowing Cup III and our team have proven themselves as a very competition threat for all rowing nations.” The team of 48 athletes and 16 support staff will depart New Zealand on 28 August.
While FISA allows countries to send multiple crews to individual events at World Rowing Cup regattas, countries are limited to one entry per cevent for World Rowing Championships. New Zealand champion Robbie Manson has secured New Zealand’s Men’s Single Scull seat through an impressive performance at World Cup III. To secure the seat Manson needed to beat Mahe Drysdale at World Cup III. Manson not only achieved this, but took home two gold medals from World Cup II and III. Last year Manson set a world record in the men’s single sculls at World Cup II, but was plagued by injury for the remainder of the season, finishing a disappointing 5 th at the Rowing World Championships.
After missing out on representing New Zealand in the men’s single scull, eight-time former national single sculls champion and two time Olympic champion Mahe Drysdale will now represent New Zealand in the Men’s Quad. The full crew consists of Lewis Hollows, Cameron Crampton, Mahe Drysdale and Nathan Flannery and will continue to be coached by Mike Rodger. Jordan Parry moves to the Reserve Men’s Double Scull with Giacomo Thomas.
Hannah Osborne continues her steady rise in the Women’s Singles Sculls. Hannah will be coached by James Coote. Kirstyn Goodger remains the Reserve Women’s Single Scull, also coached by James Coote.
The Men’s Pair seats remains with current World Championships bronze medallist Tom Murray, and Michael Brake. The duo of Murray and Brake recently secured gold at World Rowing Cup III.
New Zealand’s Women’s Pair of Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler will compete together again. The pair remain unbeaten since 2017 and won gold in both World Rowing Cup II and III.
New Zealand’s Men’s Eight sees a slight change from World Cup II and III with a shoulder injury removing Anthony Allen from the line up, and Joe Wright moving to the Men’s Reserve Pair alongside Ben Taylor. James Lassche, who competed at World Cup II and III in the Men’s Lightweight Single Scull, and Martyn O’Leary join the Men’s Eight.
After taking silver and gold at World Rowing Cup II and III respectively, New Zealand’s Women’s Eight will remain unchanged with Kelsey Bevan, Kelsi Walters, Emma Dyke, Beth Ross, Jackie Gowler, Lucy Spoors, Kelsi Parker and Ella Greenslade. Coxswain Sam Bosworth will lead the crew.
New Zealand’s reigning world champion combination Chris Harris and John Storey will join forces again in the Men’s Double Sculls under coach Calvin Ferguson. Their individual rowing careers include world cup medals as well as competing in two Olympic Games each.
Olivia Loe and Brooke Donoghue will again represent New Zealand after winning gold in the Women’s Double Sculls at World Rowing Cup III.
The Lightweight Men’s Double Scull duo of Ben van Dalen and Matthew Dunham remains unchanged.
New Zealand’s Zoe McBride and Jackie Kiddle gained silver at World Rowing Cup III in the Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls, and the duo will remain together.
A newly formed crew of Thomas Russel, Tom Mackintosh, Matt MacDonald and Angus McFarlane will contest the Men’s Four. McFarlane placed second in the Men’s Coxed Four at the recent World Rowing U23 Championships, while Russel, Mackintosh and MacDonald placed third in the Men’s Four. The crew will be coached by Tom Stannard.
The Women’s Four of Ellie Jeurissen, Georgia Perry, Phoebe Spoors and Ruby Tew contested World Cup II and III and remain unchanged.
Rowing NZ Elite Team 2018
To contest 2018 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 9 - 16 September.
Men’s Single Scull
Robbie Manson
Noel Donaldson (coach)
Men’s Coxless Pair
Tom Murray
Michael Brake
Noel Donaldson (coach)
Men’s Double Scull
Chris Harris
John Storey
Calvin Ferguson (coach)
Lightweight Men’s Double Scull
Ben van Dalen
Matthew Dunham
Calvin Ferguson (coach)
Men’s Quad
Lewis Hollows
Cameron Crampton
Mahe Drysdale
Nathan Flannery
Mike Rodger (coach)
Men’s Coxless Four
Thomas Russel
Tom Mackintosh
Matt MacDonald
Angus McFarlane
Tom Stannard (coach)
Men’s Eight
Stephen Jones
James Lassche
Isaac Grainger
Shaun Kirkham
Cameron Webster
Martyn O’Leary
Brook Robertson
Phillip Wilson
Caleb Shepherd (cox)
Gary Roberts (coach)
Men’s Reserve Double Scull
Jordan Parry
Giacomo Thomas
Mike Rodger (coach)
Men’s Reserve Coxless Pair
Ben Taylor
Joe Wright
Noel Donaldson (coach)
Women’s Single Scull
Hannah Osborne
James Coote (coach)
Women’s Coxless Pair
Kerri Gowler
Grace Prendergast
Gary Hay (coach)
Women’s Double Scull
Olivia Loe
Brooke Donoghue
James Coote (coach)
Lightweight Women’s Double Scull
Jackie Kiddle
Zoe McBride
Gary Hay (coach)
Women’s Coxless Four
Ellie Jeurissen
Georgia Perry
Phoebe Spoors
Ruby Tew
Mark Stallard (coach)
Women’s Eight
Kelsey Bevan
Kelsi Walters
Emma Dyke
Beth Ross
Jackie Gowler
Lucy Spoors
Kelsi Parker
Ella Greenslade
Sam Bosworth (cox)
Dan Kelly (coach)
Women’s Reserve Single Scull
Kirstyn Goodger
James Coote (coach)
Team Managers
Jan Taylor
Sonya Walker