Selection for World Cup One!!

Hello all.

Hope you enjoy the insight.

Over the weekend the NSW state championships were held. This regatta doubled as the selection regatta for the first world cup. Specifically for male heavyweight scullers the first four doubles in the final would earn selection into the world cup team so the pressure was on and the stakes were high.

The progression to the final of the double scull was as follows.
Heat of the single scull with top three progressing to the A final. Double scull combinations would be set based on results in the final of the single. Eg, 1st and 2nd sculler row a double together. 3rd and 4th sculler row the double together and so on. The doubles needed to progress through a heat to make the final. And then it was the big one!

Below is a summary of the racing.

Single Scull- Heat

Raced on the Friday afternoon. A heat or Semi-Final can be the most nerve racking racing experiences of the regatta. For me this was no exception at all especially having to sit around all morning and wait for the race to actually arrive.. The thought of faltering in the heat and missing out on the final is one which takes some mental capacity to overcome. Fortunately for me nerves were put aside and I put together a reasonable row and placed second in the heat to progress directly to the Final. In regards to the row, technically I felt strong, however not great physically which I put down to having done too much in the week leading in to the regatta and not being strict enough on my recovery and down time (partly as a result of starting university that week and also being busy with school coaching). 

So I got to bed very early that night prompting comments from my room mate that I was weird and there was something wrong with me. Anyways, I went to bed praying that I would wake up feeling more energised and energetic for the big saturday ahead. 

Single Scull- Final

I felt great prior to the final of the single. I was excited to see where I sat in the field. I think the best summary of the race can be shown through the following two images: showing the results and the splits down the 2000m race. And the photo at the half way mark of the race with me in second. (I was going well until the last 600m where I just ran out of legs and Purnell and Girdlestone went through me like a steam train with nothing I could do). Alexander is a force to be reckoned with at the moment, the guy is flying! Overall for me 4th is a pretty pleasing result considering my experience or lack of in the boat class. 

Pictures don't lie. Need to sit up at the finish.. 

Double Scull- Heat
I was paired with Nick Hudson for the double as Nick Purnell had opted to tackle the world cup field in the single scull so did not race in the double to ensure selection was straight forward. Following only a few hours from the final of the single the body was slightly depleted of energy reserves for this race. And as such was raced as a 'heat'  by doing enough to get through to the final and not much more which we were able to do.

Double Scull- Final

First stroke is always a nervous one. Once its over though the next comes so quickly you don't have time to think and from there blink and you are gone so its game on. 

From the heat of the double to the final we had approximately two hours, feeling tired I quickly got some food and fluid on board, found a stretching mat and with headphones in slept for 40 minutes. As soon as I woke i felt so much better and was ready to race.

The final of double was one of the most enjoyable races I can remember. Maybe that is partly because all the others are a distant memory... But for me this race was fantastic, In the warm up I couldn't help but remind myself of the outcome that may lie ahead, but secondly all the recent memories associated with my extended injury history and the frustration over the last 2 years of watching from the sidelines. Needless to say, I was going to give this race absolutely everything to ensure I gave myself the best result possible. The results page below shows the final outcome, without giving you the full run down of the emotion felt as we crossed the line in second place i will leave it by saying I was emotional, and as much as i tried to hide it from Nick in the boat with me I am sure he would have had some idea of what was going on..

And after only my 4th ever 2km single scull race and 4th ever double scull 2km race I managed to gain selection into the Aus 2 mens double scull and the Aus 1 mens quad scull.
WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
To view the Rowing Australia official media release please click here.

To everybody that has encouraged me, supported me, cheered for me, calmed me down when I was frustrated (crazy), congratulated me, helped me in the VIS and VIS gym, removed plantaris muscles from my calves, given me physio/massage treatment, liked facebook posts, been my parents, retweeted posts, watched Unsinkable epsiodes shared my blog, fixed my bike at BikeNow or purchased from here and lastly supported my journey so far in any way. Thank you so much. It all helps significantly.

Cheers, John