World Cup III gives two Gold and a Silver

by Melissa Bray, Rowing on 10 Jul 2006 Two Gold & a Silver at World Cup regatta for New Zealand Rowers

NZ men’s pair coach John Robinson has a quirky saying of ‘who let the dogs out?’ when something special happens. Today, at the 3rd Rowing World Cup regatta on the Rotsee regatta course, his magnificent charges, George Bridgewater & Nathan Twaddle ‘let the dogs out’, as the current World Champions returned to form to win the men’s pair Gold medal in a display of outstanding sweep oar rowing.

Down by half a boat length at the 500m to the talented Great Britain pair of Colin Smith and Tom James, the Kiwi pair responded with a planned move to draw even with the Brits at the 1000m mark.

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed] Another push with 750 to go saw the New Zealanders hit the lead which they held through to the finish to win the Gold medal.

‘We are very happy to have won. It was a big challenge for us because we were World Champions in 2005 and we want it to remain that way this year’ said a delighted Nathan Twaddle

It was here on the Rotsee twelve months ago that Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell were beaten by less than a ‘whisker’ by Bulgaria and those ‘nightmare’ thoughts of the same fate must have flashed through their minds when the much talked about British combination of Annie Vernon and Anna Bebington sprinted up beside them in the final few strokes. But this time the judges ‘less than a whisker’ decision was in the Kiwi twins favour.

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed] A flying start had the New Zealand twins ahead of Belarus and Great Britain by ½ boat length at the 500m

By the 1000m mark the Kiwi golden girls opened up a gap of 1 length and held this lead with 500m to go. It was just a matter of keeping their rhythm if they were to hold off the fast finishing Brits. And that they did! ‘It is a relief to be on the right side of the line this year. We can now go and train hard for the next six weeks’ said Georgina Evers-Swindell.

It is said the best learning’s are in defeat, and there is no doubt that Mahe Drysdale will have will have learnt a great deal today after being ‘stone-walled’ on the line by 2004 Athens Gold medalist, Olaf Tufte of Norway.

It appeared that Drysdale had the race under total control at the 1000m mark; however coming into the last 250m, Tufte had other ideas and increased his rating to 41 strokes a minute against Drysdale’s 36. The Norwegians boat speed was sufficiently faster than Drysdale’s to carry him across the line in the final stroke ahead of a disappointed World Champion.

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed] However Drysdale was philosophical in defeat.

‘Yes I am disappointed, but better here than in Eton. The next six weeks leading to the 2006 World Championships will allow me the opportunity to introduce the speed training that I will require in Eton’ said Drysdale.

Nicky Cole's and Juliette Haigh have yet to find the form that made them World Champions in 2005. In finishing a credible 4th today, they are experienced enough to realise the work that will be required over the next 6 weeks if they are to return to the podium in Eton.

The NZ men’s four of Eric Murray, Selwyn Cleland, Carl Meyer and Hamish Bond were no match for the World class crews from Great Britain, the Netherlands and Germany. The New Zealanders were in contention for the Bronze medal with 500 to go, however the fast finishing Germans and Slovenia held them out to 5th place.

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]The NZ women’s eight of Erin Tolhurst, Clementine Marshall, Paula Twining, Emma Twigg, Rebecca Scown, Nicky-Lee Crawford, Bess Halley, Darnelle Timbs and Candice Bardsley (Coxswain) should take comfort from the improvement they have made since arriving in Europe four weeks ago to finish 5th in their first ‘A’ final. It was always going to be a tough ask for the young New Zealand girls to compete against the rowing world powerhouse nations of Romania, USA, Germany, Great Britain and the Netherlands.

The New Zealand team now heads to Racice in the Czech Republic to prepare for the 2006 World Rowing Championships to be held in Eton, UK from 20th to 27th August.