Rowers and spectators were greeted by rain in Aiguebelette on day three of the 2015 World Rowing Championships. The men's four, the only New Zealand crew to take to the water on Tuesday, finished in fourth place in their repechage missing out on the A/B semi finals and the hope of Olympic qualification this year.
The kiwi four remained in contact with the race leaders for the first quarter of the race but gradually slipped off the pace as the race unfolded. Having given everything, the crew of Anthony Allen, Alex Bardoul, Bobby Kells and Finn Howard finished fourth behind the Netherlands, Belarus and Serbia. The four will now head to C/D semi finals.
Rowing New Zealand High Performance Director Alan Cotter commented, "Rowing New Zealand remains committed to trying to qualify all fourteen Olympic classes for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and will look towards the Olympic Qualifation regatta in May 2016."
Wednesday will see numerous New Zealand crews race in quarterfinals and repechages from 10:05am (8:05pm NZST). The men's lightweight single, men's pair, men's and women's lightweight doubles, men's and women's single will race quarter finals while the women's quad and men's eight will race repackages.
Live coverage of the 2015 World Rowing Championships will be available on Sky TV in New Zealand