8 Mar 2013

London gold medallist left out of NZ rowing squad

8:22 am on 8 March 2013

The London Olympic rowing gold medallist Joseph Sullivan has been suprisingly left out of the New Zealand team for the opening World Cup event of the year in Sydney.

Sullivan, who with Nathan Cohen won a gold medal in the double sculls, was chasing a spot in the quad sculls for Sydney.

Cohen has been included in the quad which is one of five men's boats selected.

The unbeaten men's pair of Hamish Bond and Eric Murray won't be competing in Sydney, with the London gold medallists opting to continue training under new coach Noel Donaldson.

They will contest the remaining two World Cup regattas in Europe later this year before the world champs in South Korea in August.

There's no men's single scull entry with Olympic champion Mahe Drysdale not due back in the boat until later this year ahead of the world champs.

There's a strong women's contingent with seven women's crews selected.

London Olympic bronze medalist Rebecca Scown will team up with new crewmate Kayla Pratt in the women's pair, with Pratt replacing the retired Juliette Haigh.

Emma Twigg remains in the single scull.