PHOTO; (left to right) Julia Edward, Louise Ayling

The path to the Olympics

Training continues to intensify for Rotorua’s Olympic rower; Julia Edward. “ Training has been very tough lately but I feel it’s going to be all worthwhile! We have been doing a lot of long ‘ks’” said Edward.  “ We are still training 2-3 times a day and have two squad sessions each week to compare ourselves against the other Elite crews with World Prognostics.”

She added “Alan Cotter (High Performance Manager of Rowing NZ) said Rowing NZ’s expectation of us is to get into the A Final” commented Edward

“ But our coach said ‘No! They’re going to get a medal’, so Alan Cotter replied -‘ Right then- our new expectation is, that you two will get a medal!’ ”

Edward pursues her Olympic dream, under the superb coachmanship of Rowing NZ coach, John Robinson, from Marlborough. Two years ago, as everyone focused on the big rowers; Drysdale, Bond, Murray and Cohen and Emma Twigg, Robinson said of Edward ; “ Rotorua has the most promising young rower”.

Edward began her rowing career with Rotorua Girl’s High School, coached by Rotorua Rowing Club’s Head Coach; Alastair Riddle. Riddle was recognized for excellence, in 2011,

with the Bay of Plenty ‘Service to Sport’ Trophy.

After Riddle, Edward was coached by Ian Wright, the Head Coach of the Waikato Regional Performance Centre. Wright rowed in the coxed four which won a bronze medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. When Edward won Gold for the Women’s Lightweight Single sculls, at the 2012 New Zealand Club Champs, Wright said “ I knew you could do it!” .

Rowing NZ have given Wright a mission- to get the NZ Men’s coxed eight (8+) to the Olympics .The eight will attempt to qualify at the ‘Last Chance’ regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland, on May 20.

If Wright succeeds, the New Zealand Men’s 8+ will win their race. There is only one place and the USA wants it badly.Edward agrees it is a huge hill to climb, but if anyone can do it, Wright can.