22 Jun 2009
National U23 and Open crews are in the middle of an intensive three-day racing block in training centres around Australia.

The aim is to replicate pre-competition preparation and racing at the World Cup regatta being held in Munich, Germany this weekend.

Crews are gathering in Adelaide, Melbourne and Penrith to measure themselves against the clock and their peers.

In Penrith at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, both Men's Open and Under 23 eights are going head-to-head to fine tune their race rhythm and preparation.

Along with the Women's LW2x, U23W4x, Men's 4-, and Adaptive Men's Singlescull, are other crews still hoping to win the endorsement of the selectors for RA Board approval as members of the 2009 Australian Team.

“This weekend is a great measuring stick for us. It gives us a real measure of what we still need to do to be nominated,” said Pedro Albisser, National Adaptive Head Coach. “Ben Houlison, who is already selected, continues to improve and, in fact, has topped the prognostic table in both races against all comers. Importantly also, the LTA4+ now have a tangible target for their final assessment race in mid July.”

In Melbourne both A and U23 LW Fours go head to head-to-head and in Adelaide the U23M4x andU23LW4x are also under the spotlight.

National Head Coach Men, and ‘SenA’ Men's Eight coach, Noel Donaldson, said that the weekend’s racing is invaluable. “In year 1 of the Olympiad, we have taken the strategic decision not to race at the World Cups. That’s by design and so to ‘compensate’ we have scheduled these hit outs to ensure that all crews understand the timelines ahead of them and focus on performance outcomes.”

This weekend's mini regatta takes place just as the National Junior Team again enter the AIS for training camp 2, under the oversight of Elite Development Manager and U23/Junior Team Head Coach, Peter Shakespear.

National Race Weekend 2 will take place on July 10 to 12 as part of the Youth Cup Regatta at SIRC, and as part of the Under 23 Team's pre-departure camp.

All Senior A and Under 23 crews will be in attendance in July.