Rowing: Rotorua rower a budding champ

Rotorua could have another rowing star in the making.

After the success of the likes of Julia Edward and her rowing partner Louise Ayling, current world-record holders in the women's lightweight sculls and strong medal prospects at the London Olympics, Rotorua Rowing Club is now turning to up-and-comer Jeff Francis.

The 20-year-old was part of the New Zealand men's quadruple sculls team, now ranked sixth in the world for under-23.

Francis, Giacomo Thomas, Jonathan Wright and Karl Mason made up the four-strong crew who finished sixth in the A final at the Under-23 World Rowing Championships in Lithuania yesterday behind Ukraine, Italy, Australia, France and the Czech Republic.

Proud father Rob Francis said it was a fantastic effort for a team which only came together a few months before the competition.

"There's plenty of talent in the boat and they were pretty relaxed before the race."

A coach for the Rotorua Rowing Club, he said his son's long-term goal has always been to have a go at the Olympics.

"You only have to look at Julia and what she's achieving on the international stage to gain inspiration. I think [Julia] and Louise are real dark horses at this Olympics. Some of the times they were getting at the training camps prior to leaving show they're right up there."

Mr Francis said it was Jeff's first international experience and the crew should be proud of their result. The New Zealanders managed to beat the eventual winners, Ukraine, in the heats and finished third in their semifinal.

Although the Kiwis never looked likely to overtake the dominant Ukraine team in the final, the men in black got away to the best start. By the 200m mark, New Zealand clearly had the fastest boat speed rating at 40 strokes compared to Ukraine who were at 39 strokes.

However, by 500m Ukraine were more than a second ahead of nearest rivals Italy and didn't relinquish the lead for the entire race, New Zealand more than two seconds off the pace.

By the halfway mark, the Kiwis were nearly four seconds off behind the Ukraine, France and the Czechs who were running first, second and third respectively.

The Aussies made a move with 500m to go moving from fourth to second, France just behind in third. However as the Czechs faded badly the Italians came up to pip the Australians at the line to take second.

The Kiwis finished strongly in a time of 6:07.32, but were just held out by the tiring Czechs.

Rob said his son was planning a holiday overseas before returning to New Zealand to start training again for next season.

New Zealand's medal tally at the champs was two gold from women's pair Kayla Pratt and Kelsey Bevan and men's double scull Nathan Flannery and Hayden Cohen, and three bronze from the men's coxed four, the women's quadruple scull and the women's lightweight double scull.

Men's quadruple sculls final: Ukraine 5:59.68, 1; Italy 6:00.87, 2; Australia 6:01.37, 3; France 6:06.73, 4; Czech Republic 6:06.73, 5; New Zealand 6:07.32, 6.