Avon's Sarah Smallman and Sarah Woolley's dancing skills could well have helped them make the final of the premier women's coxless pairs at the national rowing championships at Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel.
The pair like to mix up their training and have gone as far as wearing heart-rate
monitors when they are out on the town to make sure they are dancing at the best heart rates for their fitness.
Smallman, 27, a chemistry teacher at St Margaret's in Christchurch and Woolley, 29, a graphic design tutor, first rowed together in 2002.
Their partnership ended when Woolley went overseas and Smallman headed north to row as a lightweight and get married.
When they both found themselves back in Christchurch 18 months ago, they decided to give it another go.
For Woolley, it was the first time in a boat in four years.
"We just enjoy rowing together and having fun," she said.
"That was what getting back together in the boat was all about.
"We've got a great coach in Paul Westbury and we've definitely focused on cross training rather than constantly being in the boat.
"We've done all sorts - including cycling, swimming and dancing."
The pair will now face New Zealand's finest as the only non-national squad rowers in the elite women' coxless pairs.
Lining up against the likes of 2005 world champions Nicky Coles and Juliette Haigh doesn't phase them.
"You can only do what you can do and, if we come off the water having raced well and enjoyed ourselves, that'll be good enough for us," Smallman said.
"No question though, we will definitely be giving it our very best shot."
Former Olympian Rob Hellstrom and young crewmate Warrick Wright found themselves in an early repechage in the premier men's coxless pairs, having retired from Tuesday's heat.
Former national champion Hellstrom made it to today's semifinal by finishing second to Central's Hamish Burson and Peter Benny by less than a second.
The semifinals in this event are likely to be among the most fiercely contested at championships, with the majority of New Zealand's best, including Halberg Award winner Mahe Drysdale, competing.
- NZPA
