Selected in the 2004 Sen A Lightweight Pair for the World Championships and as Olympic reserve was some small consolation for Tim O’Callaghan after the disgraceful performance of the selectors in leaving O’Callaghan and his partner George Jelbart, the top performing lightweight pair out of the Olympic Four. When selectors refer back to performances in 1998 and 1999 to justify their actions one wonders when Australian rowing will come to grips with a fully transparent selection system.
Tim’s pair partner Jelbart was selected in the lightweight Olymoic double at the final selection trials.
In other selections, Nick Hudson gained selection again in the U23 Quad and will try and repeat his 2003 result of a Gold Medal in this event at the U23 Championships in Poland.
Last year’s members of the bronze medal winning U23 Eight, Mike Valli and Matt Ryan were picked in U23 Coxed Four along with newcomers to U23 Ian Alsop and Fergus Pragnell. The crew is coxed by last year’s Junior Four gold medal coxen Robbie Williams and coached by Andrew Randell.
In Juniors SUBC submitted two crews (a coxed four and coxless four) for the trials. The coxed four of Toby Dankbaar, Clayton Currie, Justin Medcraft and Richard Alsop with cox Toby Lister gained delction and with Marty Rabjohns coaching will try to make it three years in a row with Gold for Australia in Junior Fours.