Rowing: Nisbet fine prospect for gold in single sculls

Michael Nisbet (North End) will be chasing a gold medal on the first day of finals at the New Zealand rowing championships at Lake Karapiro today.

Nisbet (21) will be pitted against Southland sculler Matthew Malcolm (Waihopai) in the final of the men's senior single sculls.

Malcolm gained a psychological advantage when he pushed Nisbet into second place in the semifinals yesterday.

Malcolm won the 2000m race by 3.60sec in 7min 05.94sec, with Nisbet timed at 7min 09.54sec.

"I was first out at the start and led at the 1000m," Nisbet said.

"But Matthew made a big movement after this and pushed to the front."

Nisbet was not concerned because the first four place-getters in the semifinals qualified for the final.

The only other scullers close are Michael Harrison (Hawkes Bay), who finished 2.25sec behind Nisbet, and Matthew Glenn (Waikato), who won the other heat in 7min 11.42sec.

Nisbet also teams with clubmate Robbie Mears in the senior double sculls final tomorrow.

The only other Otago rower to advance from the semifinals was William Hyndman (Otago University), who finished third in the men's club single sculls in 7min 23.29sec.

Lucy Strack (North End) will be rowing for second place in the women's premier lightweight single sculls today.

Her times in the heats and repechage this week are 19sec behind Louise Ayling (Central RPC).

Elyse Fraser (University), and her Southern RPC partner, Sarah Barnes, are ranked fourth for the final of the women's premier double sculls with their time of 7min 31.86sec.

Hamish Bond (North End) will be seeking two more red coats today.

He is teamed with Jade Uru in the Southern RPC premier pair.

Their time of 6min 23.37sec is 8sec faster than the Waikato RPC crew of Eric Murray and Simon Watson.

It is closer in the premier four, with the Bond's Southern RPC crew neck and neck with the Waikato RPC crew.

Also in finals today are Renee Perrie (Otago) in the women's senior single and Sarah Lindley (University) and Jade Winter (Oamaru) in the under-21 single.