Aussie rowers get World Cup boost

Single sculler Kim Brennan and the men's quad scull have won gold medals on the last day of the rowing World Cup season in Poland.

Australia's rowing team will go to the Rio Olympics boosted after winning five medals, including two gold, on the final day of World Cup season in Poznan, Poland.

The golds were for reigning world champion single sculler Kim Brennan, who won her long-awaited showdown with New Zealand's 2014 world champion Emma Twigg, and men's quadruple scullers James McRae, Cameron Girdlestone, Sasha Belonogoff and Karsten Forsterling.

Brennan and Twigg were racing each other for the first time since 2014 after the Kiwi took time off in 2015, and both won their semi-finals impressively to be drawn alongside each other.

At the 500m mark, Brennan had already stamped her authority to take the lead from Denmark's Fie Udby Erichsen and Dutchwoman Lisa Scheenaard.

By halfway, Twigg was making her move through the closely packed field.

However, as the crews pushed into the third 500m, Brennan kicked down to give herself a clear-water advantage and beat Twigg, with Switzerland's Jeannine Gmelin in third place.

"I went into this race without any expectations because it has been a while since I have raced Erichsen and Twigg," said Brennan, sounding a note of caution.

"This is just one of the steps towards Rio. No one is going to play their cards here."

The Australian men's quad scull took out the World Cup series for their class after winning a second consecutive gold when they triumphed over Germany and Poland.

The men's pair of Alex Lloyd and Spencer Turrin claimed a silver medal behind Great Britain in a torrid battle.

In the women's quad scull, Maddie Edmunds, Jen Cleary, Kerry Hore and Jess Hall surged home but Germany pipped them by just 0.32s in a photo finish.

The men's four of Alex Hill, Joshua Booth, Joshua Dunkley-Smith and Will Lockwood took home a bronze medal behind Italy and Great Britain.

By virtue of winning seven medals at the event, Australia finished fourth on the medal table at World Rowing Cup 3 and sixth overall in the final World Rowing Cup standings, having competed in only two of the regattas.


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Source: AAP



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