World Rowing Championships - Update 28 August

28/08/2015

Update from World Champs 

Team South Africa departed on Monday, 24^th August for the 2015 World Rowing Championships, Aiguebelette, France. Being an Olympic Qualifying event for Rio 2016, a record number of entries have been received.  

The travelling party of 30, is yet the biggest team Rowing South Africa has ever sent abroad.  The crews consist of

• AS W1, Sandra Khumalo
• LTA Mixed 4+, Dieter Rosslee, Shannon Murray, Dylan Trollope, Lucy Perold and Willie Morgan (cox). 
• World Champions and record holders, John Smith and James Thompson will be defending their title in the LM 2x.
• The LW2x will be stroked by Ursula Grobler, with Kirsten McCann in the bow
• While the 2014 bronze medal holders of the M2- have been split as a crew, into M4- and M2-.  The M4- consists of Sizwe Ndlovu, Vincent Breet, Jonty Smith and Lawrence Brittain).
• The M2- is represented by Shaun Keeling and David Hunt.  
•  Recent World Student Games representatives Leo Davis and Jake Green will be competing in the M2+ with Willie Morgan. 
• W2- with Lee-Ann Persse and Naydene Smith and Kate Johnston in the LW1x.

Also representing  South Africa is Selwyn Jackson as a member of the FISA Events Commission.

A special mention goes to the following athletes who received their South African Senior National Colours for the first time:   Dylan Trollope, Jonty Smith, Jake Green and Leo Davis. 

The crews have settled in well after their second day of training on Aiguebellete rowing course.  The draw will be published on Saturday 29^th August at 3pm, with heats starting on Sunday, 30^th August.  First to compete will be the LW1x, W2-, M2-, LM2x and M4-.

Here is wishing all the crews well in their final days of preparation before the World Championship kicks off. For more information check out www.worldrowing.com