Rowing Australia, partner of the APC, selected two adaptive crews to complete a three week tour of Europe, at the conclusion of the 2010 National Selection Trials at the Sydney International Regatta Centre.

Ben Houlison (NSW) will compete in the men’s arms and shoulders single scull for the second consecutive year, while 2008 Beijing Paralympic silver medalist, Kathryn Ross (VIC), will combine with newcomer Grant Bailey (NSW) in the trunk and arms mixed double scull.

The two crews will attend a nine day training camp at the AIS’ European Training Centre in Varese, Italy, before competing at FISA’s Rowing World Cup 1 in Bled, Slovenia (May 27–29).

Houlison had an excellent 2009 season which included bronze medals at both the 2009 International Adaptive Regatta in Italy and the 2009 World Rowing Championships in Poland.

The 28-year-old Lithgow-born athlete moved to the AIS at the start of 2010 and is part of the new AIS Centre of Excellence rowing program. The program, headed by the National Adaptive Head Coach, Pedro Albisser, is targeting athletes ahead of the 2012 London Paralympic Games.

Meanwhile, Ross, who won silver with John Maclean in Beijing, has begun rowing with Bailey in the last two months, and the pair set some strong times during the selection regatta last week.

Ross and Bailey have also been re-located to the AIS in Canberra and Albisser is happy with their progress.

“Kathryn and Grant have come together really well and both have the potential to challenge the world’s best crews in this discipline,” Albisser said.

“We have been doing a lot of work with them in the last two months and to see the pace they produced as a combination is exciting.

“Ben has also moved from strength-to-strength in the last 12 months and his main goal is definitely focused around peaking in London in two years time.”

Following their tour this month, all three athletes will return to Canberra and continue their preparations ahead of the 2010 World Rowing Championships in New Zealand (October 31–November 7).

by Rowing Australia

Posted 06/05/2010 05:20 PM