Rowing Selection Trial Preview

The third and final round of selection trials for the 2008 Australian Rowing Team will begin at the Sydney International Regatta Centre on Friday 11 April. A host of WAIS athletes will be attempting to earn their place in the 2008 Beijing Games.

Eight crews have already been selected as part of the team that will be nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee in June, while up to six further Olympic boats may be chosen following these trials.

The Men’s and Women’s Quad Sculls, as well as the Men’s Single Scull have already qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The Women’s Double Scull, Women’s Single Scull and the Men’s Four will also be finalised following these trials but still have to qualify for Beijing. They will get this opportunity at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Poznan, Poland, June 15 – 18.

In the sculling categories, Amber Bradley and James Gatti are vying for selection in the Women’s and Men’s Quad crews, whilst Sally Robbins will be fighting for a place in the Women’s Double.

In the sweep categories, Natalie Bale will be hoping to perform well to be added to theWomen’s Eightsquad.

The Non-Olympic Senior A, Under 23 and Junior National crews will also be selected at this event with a numberof WAIS athletes hoping to make the World Championships later this year.

The first three days of the trials will consist of a regatta where there will be racing across a number of categories. Seat racing will then occur until the conclusion of the trials on Sunday 20 April.

The trials will be used to select Olympic, non – Olympic, Under 23 and Junior crews for the 2008 international season.