Suburban
The Rowing Association of Zimbabwe (RAZ) has selected an eight-member team made up of junior rowers from four leading rowing schools to represent the country at the Under 19 World Rowing Championships in Polvdiv, Bulgaria and at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta in August.
Suburban Reporter
RAZ also announced the selection of five junior rowers into its Junior Development Training Squad for 2021 who will train those selected for international events as part of nurturing them.
RAZ president Andrew Lorimer said the international rowing events were subject to confirmation that they will go ahead this year given the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lorimer said the rowers for the Royal Canadian Henley will compete in many boat class events to develop race experience.
“Please note that for the Royal Canadian Henley the athletes will be entered in as many different competing boat class events as possible in order to develop race experience as optimally as possible and to develop the potential of various combinations of athletes so as to achieve the best results possible next year and the year after in international competitions. This is to enable RAZ to build up its pool of quality rowers not just for this year but for the years to come,” he said.
On the training squad Lorimer said:
“It is the desire of RAZ to identify younger athletes who have shown potential and develop them further to gain experience and establish a strong foundation from which to build on for the future. Therefore, this squad of athletes will train with the athletes selected to row at the Under 19 World Championships and at the Royal Canadian Henley and we trust this early mentorship and coaching can only improve their technique, strength and performance which will yield greater results in the years to come. It is the intention of RAZ to enter these athletes in suitable regattas in South Africa and Zambia during the second half of 2021.”
He congratulated the selected athletes and commended them for their hard work despite the Covid-19 challenges.
“I would like to congratulate sincerely all the above athletes who have trained hard despite the uncertainty and difficulties of the past year and a half in a difficult environment as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic. I would also like to thank the parents of these athletes who have supported their athletes so enthusiastically despite the pressures and uncertainties brought by the Covid pandemic. I would like to congratulate the athletes and their schools on their selection and wish them the very best in their further training and competitive endeavours during 2021.”
He also paid tribute to RAZ junior national coach Joey Swanepoel for taking the athletes through their paces.
“I would also like to thank the RAZ Junior National Coach, Ms Joey Swanepoel, for coaching these athletes and thank the RAZ Technical Committee for the time put into the selection of these athletes.
Participation for those athletes selected to row at the Under 19 World Championships and at the Royal Canadian Henley this year should be an incredible and highly rewarding experience for all involved. I commend all our athletes and their parents for the hard work and effort put into rowing training. Please do not lose heart when things get tough but hang in there and continue to strive to improve on technique, strength and performance. Please take encouragement from the words of the South African Olympic swimmer, Ryk Neethling, who after winning an Olympic Gold medal said ‘It took me 10 years of hard work to become an overnight success’.”
Lorimer said RAZ is working to improve the performance of its squads every year and can only do this if athletes come forward and participate in the training and selection process. “It’s not just about building and selecting a squad for this year but working on building a strong pool of athletes to represent RAZ and Zimbabwe at future South African Championships, Royal Canadian Henley’s, African Championships, Youth Olympics,
Junior Worlds, World Student Games, Under 23 Worlds, Senior Worlds and the Olympics. We need you!”
TEAMS
Under 19 World Rowing Championships 2021
Kayla Kalweit: Peterhouse Girls
Done Erasmus: Peterhouse Girls
Stacy Dunstan: Peterhouse Girls
Royal Canadian Henley 2021
Tapuwa Matizanadzo: Chisipite Senior
Runakorwashe Dzapata: Chisipite Senior
Elaine Muchato: Chisipite Senior
Kabo Tommee: Arundel
Rudairo Samuriwo: Arundel
James Weller: Peterhouse Boys
RAZ Junior Development
Lara Weller: Peterhouse Girls
Kayleigh Weeks: Peterhouse Girls
Gracious Shonge: Chisipite Senior
Danielle Kaschula: Peterhouse Girls
Joel Royston: Peterhouse Boys
