Dunstan Arm Rowing Club has four athletes selected in the New Zealand under 23 and under 21 rowing teams. 

Head coach Simon Smith said it was “huge” testament to all the hard work of the rowers.

“It’s proof we’re right up there with the best in the country . . . it’s pleasing to see the constant improvement.”

The athletes selected are Jack Pearson and Angus Kenny, both in the men’s under 23, and Elsie Talbot and Freddy Todhunter in the women’s under 21.

Elsie and Freddy will compete at the under 21 Pacific Regatta in Sydney, Australia in late May and early June. 

Jack and Angus will compete in the under 23 World Championships Regatta in St Catherines, Canada in August. 

The four rowers stayed on for a week after the NZ Rowing Championships for the trials, and were told they had made the team in a face to face meeting on Friday, February 23. 

Pictured are (from left, back row) Simon Smith, Jack Pearson, Henry Clatworthy and front row Angus Kenny and Marley King-Smith, with the nationals trophy for the senior men’s quad. PHOTO: Supplied 

Pictured in the double are Freddy Todhunter and Elsie Talbot, the pair of mates were both named in the NZ U21 team. PHOTO: Supplied 

Jack (19) said it felt unreal and the selection is “beyond anything [he] could have expected.”

“I’ve been chasing this dream for years and years.”

He began rowing in 2017 and said making the NZ team was an ultimate goal, but with a few years of eligibility still ahead of him for both the under 21 and 23 teams he had decided it wasn’t everything this season.

Now he’s gearing up to move to Cambridge next month and train with Rowing NZ until July, then travel overseas to row for New Zealand for the first time. 

Elsie (18) said she had been rowing for five seasons and she was stoked to be selected.

She’s likely going to stay in Alexandra over the winter season, and stick to her training programme set by Rowing NZ, with the support of Simon ahead of her trip to Australia.

“We’ve got a few week long camps in Karapiro too, to all get in the boats together.”

Read more: Dunstan bags 20 medals at New Zealand Rowing Championships

Rowing season is underway with the South Island Secondary Schools (SISS) Championships next for school age rowers (March 1-3), followed by the Maadi Regatta (March 18- 23). Both are held at Lake Ruataniwha near Twizel this year.