The Men's Junior 4- of Tom Chapman, Michael Poulter,
Daniel Brighthope, Tom Gatti (coach Dave Milne) in action
during training on Lake Burley Griffin

National Junior crews have gathered at the NRCE for Junior Camp 2 amid a flurry of racing activity for all National Teams conducted over the mid-June weekend.

The camp is part of the redesigned National Team training process for Juniors, that sees crews come together for regular camps and intensive training with crew coaches — all under the watchful eyes of Elite Development Manager, Peter Shakespear and NTID Senior Coordinator, Wayne Diplock.

“It’s a new methodology we now have for the training of National Junior crews” said Shakespear. Very much it's based around selection of the best long-term talent and then placing them in crews, no matter where they live or with whom they train in their home clubs. We want the talent to shine through, and make sure that we put the plan in place that lets them form crew combination and rhythm before they travel overseas."

The Junior Team competes in Brive, France during 5 to 8 August. While uncomfortable to be drawn on how the team will perform, Shakespear and Diplock stressed that the main aim of Junior selection needs to remain the focus of our expectations.

“We need to develop athletes with Olympic medal-winning characteristics, and that means long-term development for the future. Any success we get in the short term is a real bonus on top of that main goal".

The Junior Team is in camp at the NRCE until Sunday June 28th. Members of the Junior Women’s Four having already completed their camp in Murray Bridge, Adelaide last week, to cope with exam commitments of crew members.