SA heavyweight rowers best at Rowing World Cup

National rowing coach Roger Barrow said although there were no podium finishes there were some encouraging signs ahead of the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam from August 24 to 31.

“We are on the right track with a big step needed for the world championships in six weeks time,” Barrow said on Sunday.

The women’s pair of Naydene Smith and Lee-Ann Persse were the standout paddlers as they narrowly missed out on a podium spot.

The duo came from fifth place over the first kilometre to move into fourth over the second half of the race.

Another highlight was the fact that two crews made it into the final of the men’s pair race with Olympian Shaun Keeling and Vincent Breed producing the best result with their fifth-place finish. They were followed by David Hunt and Lawrence Brittain in sixth place.

Barrow said he was pleased with the two men’s pairs making it into the final and he believed it would hold them in good stead at the world championships.

“We’ve learnt some good lessons and to get two pairs into the men’s final is really good,” he said.

“The racing schedule was tough for them and RSA one showed it had the speed for better results at the world championships.

“For me all four Olympic boats are moving in the right direction and with more intense training to come in the build up.”

The lightweight women’s double sculls crew of Ursula Grobler and Kirsten McCann reached the B final but also missed out on a top-three finish taking fourth place on Sunday.

On Saturday Olympic gold medallist Sizwe Ndlovu qualified for the men’s single sculls final but he had to withdraw due to ill health.

The other two remaining members of the ‘oarsome foursome’ James Thompson and John Smith had a tough time in the boat where they could not progress to the semi-final of the lightweight men’s double sculls on Friday.

The duo featured in the repecharge later that afternoon where they were unable to book a place into the next round of rowing.

Barrow said he believed both the men’s and the women’s double sculls crews would make improvements ahead of the world championships.

“The women’s boat showed the speed in the semi-final — we need to work on the final kick for them while the men are progressing after James Thompson was out for eight weeks with a stress fracture. So, they will get better and the goal is to be in the top five at the worlds.”

– Sapa