Twaddle announced in Great Race Crew
Twaddle, who next month heads to Japan with George Bridgewater for a shot at the world rowing championship medal in the coxless pair, will return from that event to row in the Waikato University eight against the visiting University of Washington crew in the Gallagher Great Race over the 4.5km Waikato River course in Hamilton on September 10.
He won't have Bridgewater in the university eight with him this time. Both were in the crew that last year lost the Great Race event for the first time, going down to England's Cambridge University.
'This is an opportunity to avenge the demons of last years defeat," said Twaddle. "I'm looking forward to the occasion and everything that goes with it.'
Five of the Waikato University crew announced over the weekend are current members of national rowing crews, including Twaddle who is regarded as a strong medal chance in Japan after he and Bridgewater won both the Munich and Lucerne legs of the Rowing World Cup series recently.
Crew veteran Andrew McCowan, who is one of two members of the eight to have rowed in all three Great Races to date, believes Waikato University has the crew to win this year after being upset by a crafty Cambridge crew last year.
McCown replaces as captain another three-race veteran, Jamie Fitzgerald, who is no longer eligible to race.
'It is pleasing to announce a strong crew, not only because we are up against very stiff competition in the University of Washington, but also because we underestimated our opposition last year, and that's not going to happen again'
'As with any loss, it fuels the fighting spirit and the guys this year are certainly not lacking for motivation', McCowan said.
The other crew member lining up for his fourth Great Race is Simon Corbett.
A Waikato University women's eight will also take on Australian opposition on the day.
Event spokesman Rob Hamill said the challenge for the host was getting the training schedules co-ordinated because many of the students had heavy commitments with both their studies and their New Zealand Rowing training programme.
'Thankfully they are all hungry to be part of history as the men take on the first American University Rowing 8 to compete in New Zealand, yet another first for this great event'
Washington this year finished with a national collegiate ranking of fourth behind Harvard, Berkeley and Princeton.
- The University of Waikato Great Race Men's Crew is:
- Andrew McCowan (Captain), Great Race old boy (3 caps), Former NZ Junior and NZ Rowing Academy.
- Ben Scott, Former NZ Junior and current NZ Academy oarsman.
- Nathan Twaddle, NZ Olympic oarsman and recent winner of the World Cup regatta series in the coxless pair earlier this year. Will represent NZ in coxless pair at World Championships in late August. Great Race old boy (1).
- Simon Corbett, Great Race old boy (3) and former NZ rowing Academy.
- Liam O'Halloran, NZ Rowing Academy.
- Dave Schumacher, NZ Under 23 four, Great Race old boy (1).
- Cameron Corkill, NZ Academy, Great Race old boy (1).
- Duncan Grant, Former NZ Elite lightweight rower.
- Paul Hartley, coxswain.
- Richard Jeffers, (reserve).
- Steve Wills (Coach), Great Race coach (3).