WAIS Rowers Ready for World Cup 2 in Varese

Australia’s senior rowers will be in action this week as Varese hosts the second edition of the World Cup Series across June 18-21.

With the Australian Institute of Sport’s overseas base located in the same city, World Cup 2 will almost feel like a home competition for many of Australia’s premiere rowers. The Italian based training centre provides high performance services and accommodation for a range of sports whilst they prepare for competition in the northern summer.

Australia has sent 17 crews for World Cup 2, with that figure including four boats that feature WAIS scholarship holders.

WAIS head rowing coach Rhett Ayliffe is also in Varese and will oversee the fortunes of the men’s double scull crew consisting of Alexander Belonogoff and James McRae – who both completed their Australian based training with Ayliffe at the WAIS High Performance Service Centre before departing for Italy last weekend.

WAIS athlete Perry Ward will take to the men’s lightweight four, alongside Tasmanian duo Darryn Purcell and Nicholas Silcox with Queensland’s Timothy McDonnell rounding out the crew.

London Olympians Alex Hagan and Hannah Vermeersch will combine as members of the Australian women’s eight, whilst both will also form part of separate women’s four crews in Varese, with the eight crew aiming to increase race load ahead of the World Championships.

World Cup 2 is the first of an extended European summer campaign for the Australian Senior A squad, with the Henley Royal Regatta in the UK, followed by World Cup 3 in Switzerland before a World Championships squad will be announced ahead of the world titles in Aiguebelette, France which run from 30 August – 6 September.

World Cup 2 will be livestreamed via www.worldrowing.com