By Michelle Pickles
World rowing champions Eric Murray and Hamish Bond can now add another award to their long list of achievements.
They've been named world rowing crew of the year by their sports governing body FISA.
The award completes yet another highly successful season for the pair.
“We don't row to get awards like any sportsperson will tell you but to get recognition from your peers is always nice,” says Bond.
“[It’s] just a really pleasant surprise to me that we were given the award from world rowing and I think it just tops off a great year for us,” says Murray.
Bond and Murray won their third consecutive world title in Slovenia two months ago and they remain unbeaten for the last three seasons.
They can now add to that achievement FISA crew of the year.
“I think it just shows that from small little old New Zealand we can produce some of the best athletes in the world that can top it with the big programmes that are getting huge amounts of money thrown at them. We are able to be successful and be recognised for that success on the world stage [it’s] absolutely amazing,” says Murray
The pair are just the third Kiwi crew to receive the award and they join five time world champion Mahe Drysdale and double Olympic champions the Evers Swindell twins.
But any thoughts of being at the gala dinner in Italy to receive their prize were quickly dispersed.
Bond has exams while Murray will christen his new baby boy.
“Also the Olympics are our goal and a trip to Europe and back although it would be nice to receive the award in person to be honest [we are] trying to minimise any interference with our programme over the next nine months,” says Bond.
Olympic gold next year would complete their impressive list of achievements.
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