Rowing: Bond dominates at Karapiro to maintain momentum

Rowing guru Fred Strachan was correct when he predicted that Hamish Bond (North End) had the potential to become one of New Zealand's greatest rowers.

Strachan recognised Bond's potential when he coached him as a schoolboy at Otago Boys High School.

Bond won his first world title three years ago, in the fours, and he has enhanced his reputation over the past 12 months by winning the world pairs title and being unbeaten domestically and internationally last year.

He added three more red coats to his collection at the national championships at Lake Karapiro at the weekend.

Bond (24) has now won 11 New Zealand premier titles and was named New Zealand male rower of the year at the end of the national championships.

The title is significant, as rowing is the sport in which New Zealand has had the most success internationally.

The country has had a string of world champions, including single sculler Mahe Drysdale, who has won four world titles.

"It is the first time I have won the award," Bond told the Otago Daily Times from Lake Karapiro on Saturday.

"It is always good to get recognition like this."

With the New Zealand trials being held at Lake Karapiro next weekend, Bond will not be able to rest on his laurels.

He is expected to be selected in the pair with Eric Murray to defend their world title when the world championships are held at the venue at the end of October.

Bond's plan is to head to Europe in May and compete in three World Cup events then return to New Zealand for two months' preparation before the world champs.

At the weekend, Bond stroked the Southern RPC crews to gold medals in the premier pair (6min 23.52sec), and coxless four (6min 05.17sec), and he was a key member of the quadruple sculls (5min 55.38sec).

He derived much satisfaction from the Southern Regional Performance Centre crews winning all but three of the premier men's titles to dominate the Central RPC and the Waikato RPC.

"We were a bit worried that we had spread ourselves too thin," he said.

"But it worked for us."

Bond was not able to repeat the eights win of last year and the Southern RPC crew had to concede to a strong Waikato eight that was full of world champions.

Waikato won in the fast time of 5min 35.29sec and was 3.03sec ahead of the Southern RPC crew at the finish.

Central RPC was another 3.21sec back in third.