Rowing: Coxhead leads charge for United

The John McGlashan four of Joey Welham, Sam Hopewell, Jack Wardell, Tyler Veltman and cox Shaun Key leads the novice coxed four from Otago Boys at the Port Chalmers United regatta at Careys Bay on Saturday. Photo by Jane Dawber.

Coxhead (49) was the most successful competitor in the United club's shortened annual open regatta at Careys Bay on Saturday.

Coxhead, who followed her children into the sport five years ago, won the masters women's single sculls from clubmates Claudine Tyrrell and Robyn Cameron.

She joined Cameron to win the masters women's double sculls from Tyrrell and Jan Brosnahan.

Coxhead went to the lead from the start in the single sculls to get a break on Tyrrell (39), who is noted for her finishing sprint.

"I always knew that Claudine would be breathing down my neck and couldn't relax until I reached the finish," Coxhead said.

In the double sculls it was more a matter of mastering the elements than beating opponents.

Cameron (47) did not enjoy the conditions in what turned out to be the second-last race of the regatta.

"It was horrible," Cameron said.

"There was a big swell and the waves were going all over the place and we got very wet."

The four Port Chalmers rowers were the best-performed Otago competitors at the New Zealand masters championships at Lake Karapiro last month.

They won silver medals in the quadruple sculls and in the coxless four.

Coxhead won a bronze medal in the single sculls and Coxhead and Cameron a bronze in the double sculls.

Brosnahan (50) is a versatile competitor who also participates in athletics.

The previous weekend she set a sixth-lap record of 40min 6sec for the masters women's over-50 grade on the uphill leg of the New Zealand road relay championships from Takahe to Akaroa.

Michael Nisbet (North End), who won a bronze medal in the premier double sculls at the national championships at Lake Ruataniwha in February, easily won the open men's single sculls.