26 Aug 2015

Rowing NZ chasing full qualification for Rio

6:26 am on 26 August 2015

New Zealand Rowing is hoping to qualify 14 boats for next year's Rio Olympic Games at the upcoming World Champs.

New Zealand rower Mahe Drysdale at the 2014 world rowing championships

New Zealand rower Mahe Drysdale at the 2014 world rowing championships Photo: PHOTOSPORT

New Zealand will compete in all fourteen Olympic boat classes as well as two international boat classes at the 2015 World Rowing Championships in Aiguebelette, France starting this Sunday.

The team will again be led by Olympic single sculls champion Mahe Drysdale and the inimitable men's pair of Hamish Bond and Eric Murray.

The Olympic and World Champions will not only be seeking Olympic Qualification but will also be chasing their sixth consecutive world title in the coxless pair.

A record 1300 athletes from 77 nations are due to race at the rowing calendar's biggest event of the year held between 30 August - 6 September.

Athletes will not only be racing for World Championship titles, but also for Olympic qualification spots as the regatta acts as the main qualification for the 2016 Rio Games.

The New Zealand Rowing Team topped the medal table at the 2014 World Championships winning a total of nine medals, including six gold (four Olympic boat classes and two International boat classes), two silver and one bronze.

The sixteen New Zealand crews competing at the World Champs are:

Women's Coxless Pair

Men's Coxless Pair

Women's Double Scull

Men's Double Scull

Men's Coxless Four

Women's Single Scull

Men's Single Scull

Women's Lightweight Double Scull

Men's Lightweight Double Scull

Men's Lightweight Four

Women's Quadruple Scull

Men's Quadruple Scull

Women's Eight

Men's Eight

Women's Lightweight Single Scull

Men's Lightweight Single Scull