Ballarat rowers making waves in Germany

BALLARAT Olympic rowers James Marburg and Anthony Edwards are looking to create waves in Germany this weekend.Former Ballarat Grammar oarsman Tom Swann joins them in the Australian squad for Rowing World Cup II action in Munich, starting tomorrow.Marburg will row with his Beijing Olympic silver medal winning crewmates Francis Hegerty, Cameron McKenzie-McHarg, and Matthew Ryan in the men's four.Swann is one of four Victorians in the men's eight.The eight has also been broken into two men's coxless fours which will be in the mix against Marburg's boat.Four-time Olympic veteran Edwards will line up in one of two Australian men's lightweight four boats.Heats, repechages and quarter-finals will be held tomorrow with semi-finals on Saturday and A-finals on Sunday.The Australian senior rowing team left for Germany last Sunday and will contest two world cup events in Europe.Rowers will travel to Lucerne, Switzerland, for World Cup III next month.The 39-strong Australian squad will enter a 15-day training camp between events at the Australian Institute of Sports' European training centre in Varese, Italy.The four-week tour is part of crucial preparations for the 2010 World Rowing Championships in New Zealand, starting in late October.Australian world championship final selection trials follow the world cup tour.Trials will be held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in August, allowing athletes who missed initial selections a chance to vie for a spot.