Stroke of bad luck for Great Race crew
New Zealand Elite Squad member Dan Boswell is on route back to New Zealand from the 2007 World Rowing Championships in Munich without getting to race.A shoulder injury has forced the 23 year old Waikato University student to pull out from competition in Munich and also the University of Waikato's Men's crew due to compete in the Gallagher Great Race in September against Harvard USA.
On arrival back in New Zealand Boswell is expected to begin rehabilitation work on his shoulder, which has been giving him grief for some time.
Recommendations at this stage from Rowing NZ management and medical staff put Boswell off the water for up to the next 10 weeks.
This announcement has come at a crucial time with the Gallagher Great Race less than three weeks away. University of Waikato Men's coach, Ross Tong, is on tenterhooks to beat the Harvard Graduate Crew and will need a strong team to do this.
Harvard University crew is currently ranked number two in America, behind the University of Washington. Washington was defeated by the University of Waikato in the 2005 Gallagher Great Race, and race pickers are finding it hard to call a favourite for this year.
A replacement in the New Zealand Men's Eight and the University of Waikato crew will be needed for Boswell as both races approach quickly.