Sally Kehoe: One Day Until Torch Relay

Towards 2012

Beijing has been and gone. Many lessons have been learnt. London 2012 may seem a while away, but for us, the journey has already begun.

This year I have been selected in the Australian Women's Double Scull to compete at the World Rowing Championships in Poznan at the end of August. My partner, Pippa Savage, a fellow Toowoomba girl, made her international debut last year in the Olympic Single Scull. In the past Pippa and I have shared a great rivalry, competing for Australia's Single Scull title, however, not until now have we combined our talents; and it is proving to be a formidible duo.

As we close in on this year's world championships, we are excited about our potential. This weekend we will be racing at Sydney International Regatta Centre alongside our fellow Australian team mates, testing our speed over 2000m and working on consistent performances. At the regatta's conclusion, we will be entering into a four week intensive training camp in Penrith before flying to Verase, Italy for a pre-World's speed camp.

Important Dates:
10th-12th July - SIRC Rowing Australia 'World Cup' regatta
14th-31st July - Penrith Intensive Training Camp
1st-9th August - Australian Rowing Team Preparation Camp
9th August - Fly to Italy
10th-20th August - Pre-World's Speed Camp (Varese, Italy)
23rd-30th August - World Rowing Championships, Poland

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

One Day Until Torch Relay

With only one day until the torch relay across Lake Burley Griffin, (from the base of Parliament House to Anzac Avenue), we are all very excited about the experience but also the commotion. We had a practice run this morning, and there will be five water police boats with approximately 40 policemen on board escorting our boat from the AIS rowing sheds to the torch relay. Lizzy Patrick our coxwain is the official torch bearer, however, we all managed to get torch bearing uniform, which is what it is all about. There will be many photos to come of the event.
Our trip to Sydney last week, was quite successful. We managed to race twice in two days. Both races were a shock to the system, however, were quite useful in our preparation towards the upcoming world cups. The eight clocked times that were the fastest of all the crews racing at the Olympic Selection regatta. This was a good indicator of where we stand because the crews that we were racing where physically prepared from racing, whereas we were in 'training mode' still.
Also, unfortunately the Who Magazine photo shoot and makeover has been cancelled for next week, however, will hopefully be rescheduled for when we are back in the country after our first tour.
We head overseas in just over a week now. We still have had a few injuries within the boat, although we have been able to continue training in the eight, thanks to the recent selection of our reserves.
Tonight we are all off to a dinner at the Great Hall at Parliament House. It is to welcome to the torch to Canberra and it is hosted by the Ambassador of the Republic of China. Although it is also an opportunity for the girls to get dressed up, which is never passed up!