World Champions Face Off

Published On: 22 March 2012

Two of Australia’s crews that were crowned world champions last year will line up against each other this Friday as the 2012 Rowing Australia National Selection Trials commence in Penrith.

The Sydney International Regatta Centre will play host to the final round of trials that conclude on April 1, before Australia’s rowing team for 2012 is announced.

The incumbent Australian lightweight men’s four of Todd Skipworth (WAIS-AIS), Ben Cureton (WAIS-AIS), Sam Beltz (TAS) and Anthony Edwards (TAS) will row against the men’s quad scull of Daniel Noonan (NSW), Karsten Forsterling (VIC), James McRae (SA) and Chris Morgan (SA) who also rowed to gold in Bled, Slovenia last year.

In a race that commences at 9.30am and features a staggered timing start, those two crews will be joined by a men’s four combination of Joshua Dunkley Smith (VIC), Drew Ginn (VIC), Tom Swann (VIC) and Will Lockwood (VIC).

The lightweight men’s four and men’s quad scull have enjoyed a solid build up to the regatta, and provided their pace is good over the first few trialing days, are in strong consideration to remain in the same combinations on the 2012 Australian Rowing Team.

Reigning Olympic champions in the men’s double scull, Scott Brennan (TAS) and David Crawshay (VIC), will race against the clock in a bid to show selectors their pace warrants selection in 2012.

In the women’s double scull dual world championship silver medallists Kim Crow (VIC) and Kerry Hore (TAS) will race Brooke Pratley (NSW) and Sally Kehoe (QLD), while 2011 world championship bronze medallists Sarah Tait (VIC) and Kate Hornsey (TAS) are the first crew to be tested in the women’s pair.

Racing commences at 9am tomorrow morning and concludes shortly after 10.30am.

Following the conclusion of the 2012 Rowing Australia National Selection Trials the Australian Rowing Team will be announced.

The team will contest World Cup 2 in Lucerne, Switzerland (May 25-27) and World Cup 3 in Munich, Germany (June 14-16) before the team is nominated to the Australian Olympic Committee.

– Rowing Australia