ROWING New Zealand aims to qualify 14 boats for the Rio Olympics and, at this early stage, four rowers with Wanganui connections are frontrunners for seats.
Kerri Gowler and Chris Harris are still listed as Aramoho-Wanganui Rowing Club members, while Rebecca Scown remains a Union Boat Club rower. Sarah Gray is now listed under the Waikato club since moving north from Wanganui several seasons ago.
New Zealand will compete in all 14 Olympic classes, as well as two international classes at the 2015 World Rowing Championships in Aiguebelette, France, starting on Sunday. A record 1300 athletes from 77 nations are due to race at the rowing calendar's biggest event of the year, held between August 30 and September 6.
Athletes will be racing for World Championship titles and also for highly sought after Olympic qualification spots, as the regatta acts as the main qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The New Zealand team topped the medal table at the 2014 world championships, winning nine medals - six gold (four Olympic classes and two international), two silvers and one bronze.