Rowing: Opponents the least of their worries

The Otago University Rowing Club (right) squares off against St Petersburg State University...
The Otago University Rowing Club (right) squares off against St Petersburg State University Rowing Club in the third and decisive race on St Petersburg's waterways at the weekend. Photo supplied.

It is not every day rowers have to negotiate wayward tourist boats while racing, but that is exactly what the Otago University crew had to do in St Petersburg at the weekend.

About 3km into the third and decisive 5.7km race in the best of three series against St Petersburg State University Rowing Club, coxswain Sachin Arulambalam had to take evasive action to avoid a collision and help his crew win by 50 seconds.

Otago University Rowing Club director Glen Sinclair told the Otago Daily Times from St Petersburg, Russia, ''special'' permission had been given to run the race through the city's waterways for the first time, and tourist boats would not be allowed to operate during the race.

''I was in a chase boat following the race, as I had to tell our coxswain by walkie talkie which span of each bridge he had to go through ... I was never confident that the authorities would be able to stop all boat movements during the race, as there are hundreds of them carrying tourists.

''It was only the cool head of Sachin that saved the day. I told him the boat was coming right at them, but that's as much as I could do ... the tourist boat obviously saw our boat, and most likely the police boat that was following the race, and did the worst thing possible and turned right in front of us.

''Our crew's blades came within centimetres of hitting the tourist boat,'' he said.

After dodging the boat, the Dunedin-based crew pulled away to clinch the series 2-1 and avenge its series loss (by points) last year when it hosted the Russians.

St Petersburg, the Russian university champion, opened the series with a narrow win in the 200m sprint, finishing 0.18sec quicker than Otago in 51.60sec.

Facing a must-win in the 2km race, the Kiwis took 700m to put half a boat length on the Russians, before extending it to a full boat length with 500m left.

St Petersburg never made a late push and the Otago University crew finished first in 5min 46sec, two boat lengths ahead.

The series was the second between the two universities after Sinclair and Russian Minister of Justice and head of the St Petersburg State University Rowing Club Alexander Konovalov struck up a friendship in 2011.

Although Otago won two of the three races last year, the Russians won the series after crews were awarded points for every second they finished ahead of the opposition.

After training six times a week early in the morning and completing four or five afternoon gym sessions through winter, Sinclair said it was a ''huge'' achievement go to St Petersburg and beat the Russians on their own water.

''The Otago University crew that raced here are a fantastic crew. We don't have any superstars, but under coach Matthew Adam they have come together to be a fantastic team.

''Technically, our crew was far superior. They had both size and strength over us, but our guys were technically efficient and very fit.''

- Robert van Royen

 

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