2018 World Rowing Championships

The regatta will take place in Plovdiv’s Maritza River Water Sports Centre with rowers vying for the coveted title of World Champion in 14 Olympic, six international and nine para-rowing boat classes. The World Rowing Federation, FISA, is pleased to announce that over 900 athletes from 62 nations will be competing.

These Championships will see the culmination of a tumultuous season in the men’s single sculls which saw two-time Olympic Champion Mahe Drysdale (New Zealand) concede his spot when he was beaten by fellow-countryman Robbie Manson. Manson now comes to Plovdiv as the favourite but will be up against the ever-improving Oliver Zeidler of Germany.

The men’s pair has entries from 25 countries and the season, so far, indicates an open book for the medals podium. Gold medals have been won this season by the popular Sinkovic brothers from Croatia, New Zealand’s Tom Murray and Michael Brake, Jakob Podrazil and Lukas Helesic of the Czech Republic.

Leading the way in the women’s pair this season has been Kerri Gowler and Grace Prendergast of New Zealand. They will be challenged by Canada’s Caileigh Filmer and Hillary Janssens, the United States’ Victoria Opitz and Gia Doonan as well as European Champions, Denisa Tilvescu and Madalina Beres of Romania.

All regatta information including results, race information, photographs, live blog and a race tracker can be found at www.worldrowing.com

While FISA allows countries to send multiple crews to individual events at World Rowing Cup regattas, countries are limited to one entry per event 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 5th 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