Bronwen Watson (NSW) asserted herself as the lead women’s lightweight single sculler as the finals of the small boat races were held under sunny skies at the 2009 Australian Rowing Selection Trials at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith on Saturday.

Watson, double world champion in the women’s lightweight quad scull in the past two seasons, won the lightweight single scull race this morning in an excellent time of 7:54.11, to show selectors that she is capable of replacing Australia’s Olympic lightweights, Amber Halliday and Marguerite Houston.

Watson finished ahead of Alice McNamara (VIC), while South Australian Maja Fiddler claimed the final place on the podium.

Pippa Savage (QLD) dominated the final of the women’s single scull and crossed the line an amazing 18 seconds clear of the field.

Savage, who capitalised on the withdrawal of fellow Toowoomba rower Sally Kehoe, was never headed and won in a time of 7:48.11. Sarah Eke (QLD) and Lisa Szatsznajder filled the minor places in the race.

Sarah Cook (ACT) and Kim Crow (VIC) firmed as favourites to be selected as the Australian women’s pair for the third consecutive year, as they swept to victory.

Cook and Crow (7:32.03) finished almost eight seconds clear of the AIS pair of Libby Alderman (WA) and Emily Rose (WA), with fellow AIS rowers Laura Osti and Emma McCarthy rounding out the top three.

David Crawshay (VIC) won a pulsating race in the men’s single scull, edging out NSW rower Nick Hudson by a boat length.

Crawshay prevailed in a time of 7:10.08 to finish ahead of Hudson, with Dan Noonan (NSW) one place further back.

Olympic silver medallists in the men’s four, Cameron McKenzie-McHarg (VIC) and James Marburg (VIC) secured a three second victory in the final of the men’s pair. McKenzie-McHarg and Marburg crossed the line in a time of 6:39.62 to lead home Fergus Pragnell (NSW) and Tom Swann (VIC).

Fellow silver medallists from the men’s four in Beijing, Matt Ryan (NSW) and Francis Hegerty (NSW), settled for third place.

Perry Ward (WA) and Ross Brown (WA) won the final senior event contested on Saturday with a narrow victory in the men’s lightweight pair.

Ward and Brown clocked 6:59.09 to position themselves as favourites to row the event at the world championships later this year.

Following the completion of the regatta, the trialling process in bigger boats began Sunday for the senior athletes and run through until the end of the week.

Rowing Australia