Rowing: Robbie Manson gets nod over Mahe Drysdale for men's single sculls seat

Robbie Manson was dominant in his single sculls final. Photo / Photosport

Robbie Manson will be the New Zealand men's single sculler this international rowing season.

Manson was confirmed today for the two World Cups and world championships, following his convincing victory over two-time Olympic gold medallist Mahe Drysdale in the Rowing New Zealand trials at Lake Karapiro earlier this week.

While appreciative of the challenge from Drysdale, the 29-year-old was looking forward to now being able to put his sole focus on the world championships.

"It's been a good summer so it's nice to have that confirmation really just to be able to get on and focus on world champs this year and not have any distractions," Manson told Radio Sport.

"In some ways it (the challenge from Drysdale) has I guess pushed me to be better. But in other ways it's sort of possibly distracted from the bigger picture for myself."

Manson, who finished in a disappointing fifth the previous two times he held the seat at the world championships, said he has learnt a lot from the last couple of years and is excited to improve on those performances.

"I feel like I learnt a lot last year and the year before so every year is a new opportunity to learn. And yeah practice what I've learnt from the year before and put it into practice.

"I think it's just working with my coach Mike [Rodger] who I'm really excited to have and the physiologist. I really trust Mike's eye with the technique and really keeping them going right through.

"I think also staying in Europe the whole time this year will make a significant difference. And yeah it's great to be able to stay there for the whole three months and prepare properly for the world champs."

Manson was also not going to let the quickly approaching 2020 Tokyo Olympics from distracting him from the task ahead.

"We'll see what happens next summer but I'm just really excited about the next six to eight months, however long it is until world champs and really getting that right and enjoying the process."

Emma Twigg, who won gold at the 2014 world championships in Amsterdam, will race the women's single sculls seat.