By BOB ANTHONY

THERE will be little rest for a trio of Tweed rowers over the Christmas break after excelling at the Queensland rowing titles at Bundaberg on the weekend.

Tara Kelly, Martina Smidt and Matthew Bolster, all gave strong performances and were rewarded with selection in the Queensland team to contest the national titles in Victoria in March next year.

Tweed rowing coach Lincoln Handley said the trio had put in tremendous performances against a high standard of opposition at the Bundaberg regatta.

Smidt, who moved to the Tweed from McLean to improve her rowing, had her decision vindicated after she and Kelly won both the Open double scull and Open quad scull events.

Smidt was also part of the winning Open fours and then came third in the lightweight single sculls behind Kelly in second.

Bolster, who usually rows in the lightweight classes, elected to compete in the Open men's pairs, where he finished third.

Handley said the results were outstanding for the club, especially considering Smidt was in her first year with Tweed and Kelly had competed in the lightweight single sculls rather than the Open where she had won the singles crown for the past few years.

He said Bolster had been up against Australian representatives, and to have a podium finish showed he was up there with some of the best.

The rowers will now look to compete in the NSW championships at the International Rowing Centre in Penrith in February, but with Handley looking to keep their momentum going, there won't be much time for relaxation despite the holiday season.

"I'll let them have Christmas off but then it will be back to training," Handley said.

"The times posted at Bundaberg were on track for national selection, so it is important we stay on our programs."