FIVE Bucks rowers have been included in the Great Britain squad heading south to New Zealand for the World Championships later this month.

Marlow Rowing Club's Katherine Grainger, Zac Purchase, Greg Searle and Annie Vernon plus Mark Hunter of Wycombe have all been selected for an event which the selectors say begins the countdown to London 2012.

Grainger will team up with Anna Watkins in the women’s double scull, but the pair won’t also race in the quads squad, as they have done successfully throughout the World Cup Series.

Four-time world champion Grainer, who won single scull silver a year ago, said: “It would have been fascinating to try for both events but we want to focus on the double scull in New Zealand to give ourselves the strongest possible chance of success.”

Vernon is part of the five-strong women’s quad squad though, while reigning Olympic champions Purchase and Hunter will try to upset the odds and beat the Kiwi hosts in the lightweight double scull.

The pair have ground to make up after only rekindling their winning partnership this summer after a combination of illness and coaching in America.

However, the most romantic story could come from Searle in the men’s eights.

Searle won gold at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 and recently returned to the sport after ten years retired with London 2012 in mind.

He is part of the men’s eight squad, which won gold and two bronzes during the World Cup Series.

The World Championships take place from October 31 to November 7.