5 Sep 2011

More success for New Zealand rowers in Slovenia

10:17 am on 5 September 2011

A silver medal for the men's lightweight double scull and a bronze for Emma Twigg brought New Zealand's final medal count at the Rowing World Championships to nine, with 12 boats qualifying for next year's London Olympics.

A great race between Storm Uru and Peter Taylor, the 2009 lightweight double scull world champions, and Olympic and current world champions Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter of Great Britain provided yet more drama.

The race was so tight it required another photo finish but unfortunately for the New Zealand crew they came up just centimetres short of gold, finishing in second place.

Emma Twigg went out to win the women's single scull, taking the lead at the 500 metre mark and building a clear water lead over the next 800 metres but was passed in the final 400 metres by Mirka Knapkova and Ekaterina Karsten.

Twigg put up a strong fight, but had to settle for a second consecutive world champs bronze.

In the women's lightweight double sculls, Louise Ayling and Lucy Strack finished sixth in their first A final, however the pair had already qualified for London.

The men's four completed a solid regatta with second place in a hotly contested B final and an eighth place ranking, booking their tickets to London in the process.

The four's qualification means 12 New Zealand crews will be at next year's London Games, a record number for New Zealand.