Otago crews secured three silvers and a bronze medal on the penultimate day of racing at the 2017 national rowing championships at Lake Ruataniwha yesterday.
Two of the medals came in the same race with Otago University crews of Karley Wilden-Palms and Hannah Duggan, and Natasha Bonham-Carter and Maysie Scott finishing second and third respectively in the women’s club coxless pair.
Club members Hayley Kettings and Haruna Sakakibara grabbed silver in the women’s senior double sculls race, and the Dunstan Arm Rowing Club crew of Olivia Furrie and Meg Creagh won silver in the women’s novice double sculls.
The premier double sculls events were two feature events of the afternoon. Some of the country’s top scullers went head to head, including London 2012 gold medallist Nathan Cohen, competing with brother Hayden in the men’s race, and under-23 world champions Jackie Kiddle and two-times world champion Zoe McBride in the women’s.
It was the battle of the Olympians for gold and silver in the men’s race, with crews pushing each other for the full 2000 metre course. Chris Harris and Robbie Manson (Central RPC) clinched victory in a time of 6:23.02. Just behind in silver were John Storey and Nathan Flannery of Southern RPC and Lewis Hollows and Giacomo Thomas of Auckland RPC in bronze. In the women’s race, the Waikato RPC duo of Hannah Osborne and Brooke Donoghue claimed national title honours with a clear water advantage in a time of 7:03.26. Southern RPC’s Olivia Loe and Lucy Spoors claimed silver, with Kiddle and McBride less than a second behind for bronze.
Other premier events raced yesterday included the men’s and women’s pairs.
With Hamish Bond and Eric Murray missing from this year’s competition, all eyes were on who was going to step into the limelight.
James Hunter and Tom Murray (Central RPC) secured victory for the second year running.
The women’s pair title was claimed by the uncatchable Emma Dyke and Grace Prendergast of Southern RPC.
The men’s under-22 single sculls was a fine display of upcoming talent. Jordan Parry, an under-23 world championship medallist, paced himself beautifully to row through Jack O’Leary and take the win. The up and coming talent was evident in the women’s under-21 lightweight single sculls as well. Waikato RPC went one-two with Samantha Voss controlling the race from the mid-way point and team-mate Luka Ellery taking silver.
Racing concludes today.
