Rowing: Twins at their peak and raring to go

By ANDY HAY

With 11 months' intensive training behind them, the tough part is just beginning. That is how Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell see their campaign to go one better than last year's silver in the double sculls at the world championships starting tomorrow night.

After seven weeks in Europe, including 10 days at the regatta venue in Seville, Spain, the twins are "hanging out to race".

"We've found that race rhythm we want," said Georgina. "This is the hard part now, it's all in the head this close to the finals. That's where it's won. We can't get any fitter, faster or stronger here on in."

They knew which part of the race they needed to focus on, the part that last year meant the difference between first and second, she said.

While the pair have gained confidence from a win at the World Cup regatta in Munich last month, the only event they have entered in Europe this year, they refuse to make any predictions beyond racing to the best of their ability.

"There's a whole bunch of new crews this year," Georgina said. "Lots of unknowns. We'll find out halfway down the track tomorrow."

If they win, it is straight to the final next Saturday.

But this year it will be one medal at most for the 23-year-old Halberg Award winners. The quadruple sculls, which would have teamed the twins, Angela Fife and Paula Twining in an effort to repeat last year's silver medal-winning performance, have been scratched.

That leaves Fife, in her first senior world championships, to contest the single sculls and Twining in the women's coxless four.

Rowing New Zealand chief Mike Stanley said the four remained a medal possibility.

They finished fourth in Munich but had made strides with their boatspeed since.

A seating change had also kept the momentum going in the men's coxless four.

Avon's Ian Smallman has moved to the stroke seat, pushing Wairau's Rob Hellstrom to the bow seat.

Stanley said 31-year-old Dave Waddell, the older brother of Olympic single sculls champion Rob, was also making his presence felt.

"Dave adds experience and a perspective on the international racing side of things, and there's some urgency there for him personally."

Consistency has been an issue for this crew, and to advance to the final they will need to string two or three top races together. A top six finish will be an achievement.

All the Kiwi crews have heats tomorrow, including pair oar Kate Robinson - a silver medallist in the four last year - and Maree Kaati, a member of the coxless four that won gold at July's Commonwealth regatta.

Repechages are on Tuesday, semifinals on Thursday and finals next Saturday.