Rowers compete with eye on Japan

GEELONG rowing stars Angus Widdicombe and Addy Dunkley-Smith will take their bids for 2020 Olympic selection to the next level this weekend at the 2018 World Rowing Cup II in Austria.

The former Geelong College students will hit the water in Linz determined to master the conditions before the 2019 world championships, which will double as the Australian selection trials, at the same venue.

Widdicombe is making his second appearance for Australia, this time in the men’s eight, and will be hungry for victory after being pipped for gold on debut

His former Geelong College and Barwon Rowing Club coach Andrew Cleary said Widdicombe always had the talent and passion to excel and had high hopes this weekend.

But importantly he hoped to see his former charge impress new Rowing Australia head coach Ian Wright, who has driven a new wave of competitiveness in the squad.

“He’s a hard-nosed coach and has certainly been working their men pretty hard,” Cleary said.

“It’s a very competitive nature created at the training centre in Canberra and everyone’s always fighting for a place in the boat.”

Dunkley-Smith will need to overcome the nerves of her first senior international regatta in the green and gold as part of the women’s eight.

The 24-year-old has a healthy sporting pedigree.

Her brother Josh Dunkley-Smith was in the men’s four the past two Olympics and mum Addy Ducek was a sailing Olympian.

Cleary said it would be a crucial meet for the pair, who trained in the national program in Canberra, to highlight their Olympic credentials in the 2020 cycle.