It’s that time of year again! The international rowing season kicks off for the Kiwi team
this weekend in Linz-Ottensheim, Austria!

For all the Kiwi fans out there, here are the athletes and events we can look forward to seeing in action this weekend!

Note- A-final times have been determined from a provisional schedule and may be subject to change.

 

Events:

 

Robbie Manson(pic) will need to hold off Olympic Champion Mahe Drysdale to have a shot a single sculls glory in 2018

Men’s Single:

A-Final Time: (12.33 Sunday local, 22.33 Sunday NZT)

NZL1: Robbie Manson

NZL2: Mahe Drysdale

Perhaps the most intriguing contest to pay attention to this world cup season is the clash of the single scullers featuring world record holder Robbie Manson and double Olympic champion Mahe Drysdale. Manson is on a mission to solidify his position as New Zealand’s representative single sculler and make his way onto the dais at the 2018 world rowing champs after finishing 5th in 2017. Drysdale is on the comeback following an extended break after taking home gold at the Rio Olympics in 2016 with the regatta in Linz marking his return to the boat. Ultimately selection for the sole singles spot at September’s world champs will be decided in Lucerne, but this weekend’s race will be an important test of form for both scullers.

Top competitors: Croatia, Cuba, Germany
 

Men’s Lightweight Single Scull:

A-Final Time: (17.13 Saturday local, 03.13 Sunday NZT)

NZL: James Lassche

James Lassche makes his sculling debut in Linz the lightweight men’s single scull. Lassche was a member of the NZ Lightweight Men’s Four in Rio 2016, the final Olympic Games for the only lightweight sweep event on the program. Forced to change tact, Lassche bulked up to race in the Men’s Eight last year, finishing 6th at the World Champs. This season he returns to the lightweight class, no doubt vying to eventually contest the lightweight men’s double- the only lightweight event on offer at Tokyo 2020. Clearly a very versatile athlete, Linz will mark the first step on a new journey for the 28-year-old.

Top competitors: Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Italy
 

Chris Harris and John Storey are back to continue their winning streak in the double sculls

Men’s Double:

A-Final Time: (10.18 Sunday local, 20.18 Sunday NZT)

NZL: John Story and Chris Harris

The Kiwi doubles combination of Chris Harris and John Storey enjoyed a breakthrough year in 2017, rising to the top of the field to take gold at the world championships in their first year racing together in this boat class. This season they are back with more time and experience on their side and will be an exciting prospect to watch as they look to continue their impressive winning streak.

Top competitors: Poland, Great Britain, Italy
 

Men’s Lightweight Double:

A-Final Time: (11.03 Sunday local, 21.03 Sunday NZT)

NZL: Matthew Dunham, Ben Van Dalen

After Matt Dunham’s impressive silver medal in the lightweight single at last years world championships it is no surprise to see him move into a double this year, as the only lightweight boat with a ticket to Tokyo on the table. Dunham teams up with Ben Van Dalen, a new addition to the elite team in 2018 having made the step up from the U23 ranks. Linz will be this combination’s first international outing, and a good test of form for the double as they look to make their mark on a notoriously tight field.

Top competitors: France, Poland, Norway
 

Men’s Quad:

A-Final Time: (11.48 Sunday local, 21.48 Sunday NZT)

NZL: Lewis Hollows, Cameron Crampton, Jordan Parry, Nathan Flannery

Speaking of tight fields, the men’s quad has produced several nail-biting finishes over the last couple of years and 2018 is shaping up to be no different. The young New Zealand combination made good progress in 2017, winning the B final at the World Championships in their first year together. Jordan Parry joins the crew this year from 2017’s golden U23 boat, with the crew looking to peg their way up into medal contention.

Top competitors: Great Britain, Germany, Norway
 

Several changes have been made to the eight that raced in 2017(pic) as the crew continues to develop
 

Men’s Eight:

A-Final Time: (12.03 Sunday local, 22.03 Sunday NZT)

NZL: Brooke Robertson, Anthony Allen, Cameron Webster, Steven Jones, Isaac Grainger, Joe Wright, Shaun Kirkham, Phillip Wilson, Caleb Shepherd (cox).

The Men’s Eight returns to international racing this year with a number of changes to the lineup. Cameron Webster and Anthony Allen join the crew from last year’s coxless four combination, with Philip Wilson and Joe Wright also earning a seat in the boat. The eight has become a regular qualifier in the big A-Finals over the last couple of seasons and edging closer and closer to the hardware- managing to grab a silver at world cup two in 2017. With half the boat new this year, Linz will be a good indicator of form for this fresh combination.

Top competitors: Germany, The Netherlands, Italy
 

Women’s Single:

A-Final Time: (12.18 Sunday local, 22.18 Sunday NZT)

NZL: Hannah Osborne

Then 23-year-old Hannah Osborne made her world champs debut in the single in 2017, finishing a very respectable 8^th place in an event that tends to favor age and experience. Osborne has had some strong results in the single over the domestic summer season, including taking out the North Island champs title in an exciting sprint finish with doubles world champion Brooke Donoghue. Another year older and wiser in 2018, look out for Osborne to progress into the A-final ranks in this prestigious event.

Top competitors: Switzerland, Austria, Great Britain, Germany
 

The women's pair of Kerri Gowler and Grace Prendergast  had a breakthrough year in 2017

Women’s Pair:

A-Final Time: (09.35 Sunday local, 19.35 Sunday NZT)

NZL: Kerri Gowler, Grace Prendergast

Perhaps the stand-out performers in 2017, Kerri Gowler and Grace Prendergast left no box unchecked in taking back to back world cup golds and a world champs title, with a new world record thrown in for good measure. The pair return to international racing this year after a domestic season of training amongst a strong women’s contingent in the summer squad, as they look to build on what was an extraordinary 2017.

Top competitors: The Netherlands, Great Britain, Denmark, Romania
 

Women’s Four:

A-Final Time: (10.33 Sunday local, 20.33 Sunday NZT)

NZL: Ellie Jeurissen, Ruby Tew, Georgia Perry, Phoebe Spoors

2017 was an exciting year for the women’s four event, as a newly minted Olympic boat class. In 2018 the NZ crew features a new lineup, with Ruby Tew and Georgia Perry bringing experience into the boat from their bronze medal winning efforts with the women’s eight at last year’s world champs. Elite newcomers Ellie Jeurissen and Phoebe Spoors round out the combination in Linz, which will be an important first test for this developing crew.

Top competitors: Australia, The Netherlands, Romania
 

Olivia Loe and Brooke Donoghue became world champions in the double sculls in 2017:

Women’s Double

A-Final Time: (10.03 Sunday local, 20.03 Sunday NZT)

NZL: Olivia Loe, Brooke Donoghue

Another world champion duo, Olivia Loe and Brooke Donoghue, return to the double sculls this year after a golden run in their debut together in 2017. The combination impressed last year with their powerful yet agile stroke, now armed with a season of experience they will no doubt look to continue their dominance with Tokyo 2020 the ultimate goal.

Top competitors: The Netherlands, Belarus

Women’s Lightweight Double:

A-Final Time: (11.18 Sunday local, 21.18 Sunday NZT)

NZL: Jackie Kiddle, Zoe McBride

Jackie Kiddle and Zoe McBride were another new combination in 2017 to make a big impression on the world stage. After winning the Lucerne world cup in impressive style, the pair were pipped for gold by a new Romanian crew at the world championships, a finish that will no doubt have fueled the fires in training over the summer. Look out for this determined combination at the front of a competitive field in Linz as they strive to take back the top spot.

Top competitors: The Netherlands, Romania, Great Britain
 

The women's eight took bronze in 2017 amongst a close finish with Canada and Romania

Women’s Eight:

A-Final Time: (12.48 Sunday local, 22.48 Sunday NZT)

NZL: Kelsey Bevan, Kelsi Walters, Emma Dyke, Beth Ross, Jackie Gowler, Lucy Spoors, Kelsi Parker, Ella Greenslade, Sam Bosworth (cox)

The Kiwi women’s eight has gone from strength to strength in recent years and will hope to further ascend the dais in the 2018 international season. This year’s lineup has several changes from last years bronze medal crew, with the retirement of Rebecca Scown, and tight competition for seats amongst a women’s squad with impressive depth of talent. Jackie Gowler, Kelsi Parker, Beth Ross and Ella Greenslade have all stepped up to the challenge in 2018, and it will be exciting to see this new combination build of the success and experience of the last couple of seasons.

Top competitors: Romania, The Netherlands, Great Britain
 

Reserves in Action:

Men’s Reserve Pair:

A-Final Time: (09.48 Sunday local, 19.48 Sunday NZT )

NZL: Martyn O’Leary, Charles Rogerson

Men’s Reserve Single:

A-Final Time: (12.33 Sunday local, 22.33 Sunday NZT)

NZL3: Giacomo Thomas
 

Good Luck Team! We'll Be Cheering at our Screens For You!