Strong Wanganui presence in NZ team | Manawatu-Wanganui Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Manawatu-Wanganui

Rebecca ScownWorld Cup pairs winner Rebecca Scown didn't have to worry about whether she was going to be named in New Zealand's World Championship rowing team.

But she did miss the naming ceremony.

Union Rowing Club member Scown was having an operation to cure a tendonitis problem in a forearm while  the large team of 55 were announced at Lake Karapiro.

Scown remains in the pair with former world champion Juliette Haig, the same pairing having swept everything in front of them during the European World Cup season.

Other Wanganui or former Wanganui rowers to gain selection were: Sarah Gray (now Waikato), women's quad), Harriet Austin (also Waikato, women's coxless four), Simon Wartson (Waikato, men's coxless four), former Collegiate student Hamish Burson (Hawke's Bay), and the two recipients of a decision to field a men's eight - Aramoho's Chris Harris and Ben Hammond.

Former Wanganui Sportsman of the Year coach Calvin Ferguson has three crews to look after.

 Scown said she didn't have to trial over the past week  because of the
 tendonitis,  a common rowing injury. She expected to be  "good to go" in a couple of days.

 So did she have to worry about selection?

"You like to think we did enough, I suppose - but I think this week was probably about adding more crews, not changing too much about the established boats."

 
 Scown suggests pressure of competing on her home patch would come from her mostly.

"Julie and I are quite good at blocking out other distractions - it won't be a problem for us."

And the secret to their success this year?

 "I think we came together quite naturally as a combination. It wasn't perfect to begin with but we moulded together and we both have pretty similar mindsets."