This is the third time Murray and Bond have been voted Crew of the Year following their wins in 2011 and 2013, and it comes at the end of a year when they not only won a fifth consecutive coxless pairs world title, but also took gold in the coxed pairs accompanied by Caleb Shepherd, setting a world best time in so doing.

Since coming together in 2009 after rowing in the four at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, these two men have dominated the coxless pair event, remaining unbeaten.

At London 2012 hey set the world best time in their boat class and they currently hold the record for the most number of consecutive international wins.

New Zealand's Hamish Bond and Eric Murray, unbeaten in the coxless pair since they joined up in 2009, have won a third award as World Rowing's Male Crew of the Year ©Getty Images

Twigg's route to World Rowing's top award has been very different.

After an international career that has lasted a decade, and included world junior and under-23 gold medals, she finally realised her ambition of winning the senior world single sculls title this year, deposing Australia's Kim Crow.

Twigg served early notice of her intentions by beating Crow to the line at the first World Rowing Cup in Sydney and then took two more World Rowing Cup golds before confirming her superiority in the World Championships.

The 2014 World Rowing Distinguished Service to Rowing award went to Switzerland's Denis Oswald, secretary general of the International Rowing Federation (FISA) for 11 years and President for 25 years before retiring earlier this year.

During his Presidency, the number of FISA member national federations grew from 67 to 142, lightweight rowing was added to the Olympic programme and rowing became part of the Paralympic Games programme.

Oswald also held leading positions in the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

As an athlete he participated in three Olympic Games and won a medal at the 1968 Olympic Games.

He also won at the Henley Royal Regatta and gained a number of Swiss national titles.

Denis Oswald received the 2014 World Rowing Distinguished Service to Rowing award ©Getty Images




World Rowing Coach of the Year award went to Bent Fransson, who has guided Denmark's lightweight men's four to huge success in the last seven years.

The crew won gold at the 2008 Olympic Games and bronze at London 2012.

Since then, despite the retirement of the famed Eskild Ebbesen, they have won gold at both the 2013 and 2014 World Rowing Championships and European Rowing Championships.

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