Drysdale vs Waddell fires up again
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Email this article 20/02/2009
The 2009 New Zealand Rowing National Championships has just become a whole lot spicier. One of the best scullers in the world, Rob Waddell is back on the rowing scene. Arriving fresh, very fresh, from racing yachts, Waddell competed today in the semifinal of the men’s single. Mahe Drysdale raced in the other.The line-up of six scullers in each of the semifinals was nothing short of staggering considering this is a national championship in a nation of just 4 million people. Nine of those racing are international medallists with seven of them current or former world champions.
Semifinal one featured Drysdale: Olympic bronze medallist and men’s single three-time World Champion. Joseph Sullivan: two-time under-23 men’s single champion. Storm Uru: Olympian and two-time under-23 lightweight men’s single champion. Duncan Grant: two-time World Champion, lightweight men’s single. Graham Oberlin-Brown: two-time under-23 champion in the lightweight men’s single and lightweight men’s double.
Semifinal two had Waddell: Olympic Champion in the men’s single from Sydney 2000 and 2008 Beijing Olympian in the men’s double. Nathan Cohen: 2008 Beijing Olympian and junior and under-23 medallist in the men’s single. Peter Taylor: Olympian and under-23 champion in the lightweight men’s double. Daniel Karena: world junior medallist in the men’s double.
Uru, in semifinal one called it, “One hell of a race.”
Drysdale finished first in semifinal one over Sullivan with Uru qualifying in third. The second semifinal was won by Waddell ahead of Cohen and Taylor taking third.Waddell came to the national championships directly from competing for the last month in the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series yacht race where he was the grinder for Team New Zealand. Waddell admits sailing has not been the most ideal build-up to racing in the rowing championships, but he is committed to trialling for the 2009 New Zealand rowing team and these championships are an important part of the rowing season. Waddell is the defending champion of the men’s single having beaten Drysdale last year at the national championships.
Drysdale goes to the final with the fastest qualifying time. After the Beijing Olympics Drysdale took a break from full time training and enjoyed racing head races in a number of countries. He is now back training under the guidance of New Zealand’s head coach, Richard Tonks.
The final of the men’s single is due to be raced at 1.00pm (NZL time) on Saturday 21 February at Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel. Results can be obtained at: www.rowingnz.com
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