Single seat nod for Drysdale
He couldn’t make the final of the North Island club championships late last month, but Mahe Drysdale has won the race to represent New Zealand.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist in the men’s single scull has won selection over arch-rival Robbie Manson to represent New Zealand in two 2020 World Cup regattas.
It gives Drysdale a massive boost as he looks to pip Manson in the race to be New Zealand’s single scull representative at this year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Despite missing the final at the North Island club championships at Lake Karapiro last month and Manson winning the final, Drysdale will be the man to wear the black singlet at World Cup II in Italy on May 1-3 and at World Cup III in Switzerland on May 22-24.
With the New Zealand Olympic team set to be announced on June 10, all is not lost for Manson after he was named to partner Chris Harris at the two World Cup events in the men’s double.
Manson has been New Zealand’s representative in the men’s single since Drysdale’s second Olympic gold in Rio in 2016 but has been disappointing at the past three world championships.
After missing out on the A final in Austria last year, Manson said he would reassess his options ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Hamish Bond has missed out on selection for the World Cup events in the men’s coxless pair with Michael Brake and Tom Murray earning that right.
Following another round of elite trials between February 29 and March 6, a women’s quad crew to contest May’s World Cup events will be announced.
Subject to performance, a men’s quad and men’s eight could also be announced to contest the World Cup event in Italy and the final Olympic qualification regatta.