There is no doubting North Esk rower Connor Ryan’s potential to achieve great things.
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He is dedicated to many hours training in the wee hours of most mornings on the Tamar River, and is modest about his long-term ambitions.
Ryan, 19, will fly out to Canberra on Wednesday to prepare for the second and final leg of the Trans-Tasman Regatta in New Zealand, from August 23 to 25.
Australia leads by two points heading in and Ryan, an under-21 reserve rower, is confident the squad has what it takes to hold on at Lake Karapiro.
Personally, he is just looking to put in a good performance.
“I know I’ve done the hard work, that’s all I can do,” he said on Tuesday.
“A couple of weeks ago I had a bit of back trouble so my training volume decreased, but the intensity is still there.
“It’s not impacting me anymore, it’s healed well.”
The lightweight single sculler is known for his versatility after experiencing success during the opening leg in Sydney in June.
Ryan teamed up with Portia Bennett to claim lightweight mixed double sculls gold in seven minutes and 20 seconds, before being called up into the heavyweight men’s pair boat alongside Alex Nichol.
The duo finished third in the final.
“The double I did was really good to get the gold, and then to jump in the pair as the reserve, which was interesting to row with one of the heavyweights from New South Wales,” Ryan said.
“It was definitely tough but we got a good result so I was happy with that.
“I feel like I’m pretty flexible with what I can do. I’m confident with my sweep rowing.”
Ryan has been soaking in information from experienced North Esk coaches Trevor Barrett and Barry Townsend since turning to the sport five years ago.
The teenager has also relished the chance to learn from Tasmanian Institute of Sport rowing co-ordinator Brendan Long in the past 12 months.
He said becoming a TIS emerging athlete last year has helped him understand that training is more than just rowing practice.
It’s about diet, sacrifice, strength and conditioning and so on.
“I’ve been rowing competitively for about five years. I got involved through friends and family,” he said.
“Long term I just want to do the best I can and go as far as possible whatever that is – world championships, Olympics who knows?”
The former Launceston College student helped the year-11 and 12 institution achieve great things on the water, and is now studying health sciences at University of Tasmania in between his hectic training schedule.
“Determination is a key asset for him. He is lucky enough to be part of a very successful group of young rowers we’ve got,” Barrett said of his star.
“His ability to swap and change is brilliant too, he is in the next crop of very talented Tasmanian rowers.
“We normally train six to seven days a week and mostly two to three hours everyday.
“Coming into racing season we might hit 30 hours training, while this time of the year we are about 20 hours from 5am in the morning, four or five times a week – you need dedication as it’s bloody cold.”
MURE ON SONG
Hobart rower Wilson Mure put in a great effort at the World University Rowing Championships in Shanghai, China during the week.
The Huon Rowing Club athlete and doubles partner Hugo Langsford, of South Australia, finished fifth in the men's pair A final.
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