Young rower makes her bid for Olympic selection

Rotorua rower Julia Edward has given herself every chance of making this year's Olympics.

The 20-year-old has been selected to trial for selection for the New Zealand rowing team. Edward won gold in the lightweight women's single sculls at the National Rowing Champs on Lake Karapiro recently.

She will be joined by fellow Rotorua rower Jeff Francis. The pair are eligible for the Under-23 New Zealand Team who will compete at this year's U23 World Rowing Championships in Trakai, Lithuania on July 11, the New Zealand team for the Olympics on July 27 and the World Senior and Junior Rowing Championships being held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Edward said she was happy with her results at the nationals. "I'm especially pleased with my single, beating the two elite lightweights has put my foot in the door for selection at trials."

The trials, which start tomorrow in Cambridge, begin with a 2km ERG and this is followed on Monday with seat racing over the week, culminating in selection on the March 2.

Edward will be working hard to get into the elite lightweight double scull going to London and is determined, as well as optimistic of her chances.

"If I'm unsuccessful I will still be happy with U23s as I'm one of the youngest trialing for the double," Edward said.

"I'm feeling quite good going into the trials, nationals has given me a bit of confidence. We have been working on holding our peak from nationals so keeping up with speed work. A few days before trials we will ease right off to peak again for trials."