WAIS Rowers Named on Australian Senior Team

Published On: 9 March 2015

Perry Ward will represent Australian in the men's lightweight four

Four WAIS rowers across three boats have earned selection for the 2015 Australian Rowing Team following selection trials in Penrith.

Rowing Australia confirmed its squad over the weekend, for the team which will represent Australia at two World Cups in Europe, before a final squad for this year’s World Championships in France is settled pending performance at those meets.

WAIS world championship representative Perry Ward has been named in the men’s lightweight four squad that also features Tasmanian pair Darryn Purcell and Nicholas Silcox as well as Adelaide’s Alexander Hill.

The Olympic class boat will be coached by Brett Crow.

London Olympians Alex Hagan and Hannah Vermeersch will reprise their 2012 role in the women’s eight. The pair was named in the squad which will be overseen by coach Andrew Randell.

Maia Simmonds has been provisionally selected in the women’s lightweight quad boat which is subject to further trials. Simmonds was named along with; Laura Dunn (NSW), Sarah Pound (NSW), Georgia Miansarow (NSW) and Georgia Nesbitt (TAS) with four to make the final squad.

Simmonds won a silver medal in the same class at the 2014 World Championships in Amsterdam. The quad crew will be coached by Ellen Randell.

WAIS head rowing coach Rhett Ayliffe has been selected to oversee men’s double scull combination, consisting of South Australian duo Alexander Belonogoff and James McRae.

All crews have been selected to represent Australia at the 2015 World Rowing Cup 2 (Varese, Italy), World Rowing Cup 3 (Lucerne, Switzerland) and the 2015 World Rowing Championships (Aiguebelette, France). However, subject to results at the first two events (WRC 2 and 3), selectors will review crews and their performances before final confirmation of the 2015 World Rowing Championships team (July 30 – August 6).