NZ nationals tough for Drysdale

Many of the top rowers raced in multiple events with two-time World Champion Mahe Drysdale starting in a hefty six events. This proved difficult for the single sculler Mahe Drysdale when he faced a definite rise in local standards.

Teaming up with 2005 World Champion in the pair, Nathan Twaddle, Drysdale entered the men’s four, quad, pair, eight and double, as well as his prime event, the single. The duo took on a mixture of club and national team rowers from throughout New Zealand rowing.

The pair proved to be a good choice with Drysdale and Twaddle winning gold over two members of last year’s national team men’s four, Hamish Bond and Carl Meyer.

The four and eight earned the duo a bronze and silver respectively while the quad earned them another gold medal. But Drysdale was disappointed to be out of the medals in the double where they could only pull through to fourth.

This appeared to add to Drysdale’s resolve for the men’s single and he commented in the Rowing New Zealand press release:

“I was disappointed yesterday and had a lot to think about. We just didn’t perform as well as we should have. It was important to me to go well in the single.”

Drysdale proved his single superiority over a tough field that included world under 23 silver medallist Nathan Cohen, who finished second and world lightweight bronze medallist Duncan Grant who came in third.

In the women’s events, half of the Olympic Champion double, Caroline Evers-Swindell, won over 2005 world junior champion Emma Twigg. Evers-Swindell then teamed up with her sister Georgina to easily win their key event, the double. The twins also took an easy win in the women’s quad but ended up finishing second in the eight to a crew that included 2005 World Champions in the pair, Juliette Haigh and Nicky Coles.

Results from these races have helped selectors decide who will receive trials for the 2007 New Zealand national team which will take place the first week of March.