World Cup II Entries Announced, Eric Murray's Waikato Times Interview



The above (very nicely produced) video interview comes to us from the Waikato Times, and covers how Eric Murray got into the pair with Hamish Bond, his hopes for the New Zealand men's pair in the final stages of preparation for London, as well as the sometimes 'mind-numbing' nature of the long hours of training required to go fast at the elite level.

The entries for the second World Cup, this one in Lucerne, have been announced, and the field will include the three-time defending world champion Kiwi pair. The duo will take on last year's and bronze medalists, Italy's Noccolo Mornati and Lorenzo Carboncini, and fourth place finishers in 2011, the Gkountoulas brothers of Greece. Beijing silver medalists Dave Calder and Scott Frandsen of Canada will be back in action on the international stage, following a fifth place finish last year, and defending Olympic champion Duncan Free (having recently come back from another injury, this time to the ribs) will test his speed as AUS2 with new partner Thomas Larkins. Former Cal Bears and 2010 IRA champions in the men's varsity eight, Spencer Crowley and Will Dean, will be racing as CAN2, and Great Britain will also be bringing two entries: Will Satch and recently appointed CUBC president George Nash, racing as GBR1 following their second place finish in Belgrade, and Cameron Nichol and Nathaniel Reilly-O'Donnell (the bow pair of last year's GB men's eight). Add to this World Cup I winners Felix Drahotta (sixth place with Maximilian Munski in Bled last year) and Anton Braun of Germany, and it should make for a very interesting final in the men's pair.

Suffice it to say, it's a deep field in Lucerne this year. For a complete list of entries, please visit the official website of World Rowing.

-RR

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