23.06.14

Turning the tables - After one of the toughest days I have had in rowing yesterday (Saturday), to come out today and to perform how we did, it feels bloody satisfying. In the heat of the day, pushing 30 degrees, we went out there to perform and commit.

We did this and the result transpired; we won by over 2 seconds to the Danish crew that knocked us off the day prior. To turn that result around within 24 hours with an extra race for us is something that we are pretty chuffed about and is what you can give credit to the Rowing New Zealand training programme that Dick Tonks has installed.

Our start wasn’t as fast as the other days, well we didn’t get the lead that we have done. Not to worry or panic, we got to our length and found our rhythm set by our stroke man, Curtis Rapley. James Lassche and I got in behind and got into our work. Long, smooth, powerful strokes. Capped off by Jamie in the bow, setting the boat up and providing the counter balance to Lassche and I. The 2nd 500m is our rhythm, the 3rd 500m is our power phase. We targeted this and we achieved. The fight started off with a 4-way tussle, France, Great Britain and Denmark. Which became 3 by midway with France dropping off. Having a canvas lead at halfway and then moving out to ¾ length over the Danes by 1500m, we were achieving our goal. Being fired up, we started to put our foot on the throat of the other crews, picking the pace up in the last 500m. Clearing out to over a length lead, nobody was going to catch us now. Winning by over 2 seconds to the Danes and a second back to Great Britain. It felt bloody good, and my emotion came out of me where there were a few woohoo’s could be heard afar. I was just so stoked that we were able to turn around the previous days races into a good performance today.

Also to cap of a great day was the performances of Mahe Drysdale, winning how he did and so early in his comeback is quite remarkable. Gold also to Emma Twigg, Hamish Bond, Eric Murray and Julia Edward adds to the buzz around the team. Congratulations have to be also given to the Women’s Quad Bronze Medal, choice effort.

A big thank you too for all the amazing support back home. Been awesome receiving all the emails and hearing about how everyone is following our team. Special mention to my sponsors, Deloitte, Bankstream, Horleys, 2XU, Avanti Bikes, 2 Degrees Mobile as well as The Pinnacle Programme and Outward Bound. This is what I love to do, set high targets, reaching goals and represent New Zealand at the highest level.

Now, we can’t get ahead of ourselves here. It was a tough and successful regatta for us. We have learnt a lot and need to keep improving if we are to keep the performance coming. There are always areas for improvement and we haven’t nailed it yet. We have 3 weeks till our next World Cup and then World Championships at the end of August. All working it’s way to Rio 2016.

For now, it is a bloody good feeling.

 

AVANTI RIDERS