The event, held at Lake Ruataniwha alongside the R2K single sculls over the weekend, was a tight contest between Otago and Canterbury before Otago pulled away late on the second day.
In perfect conditions, Otago won 12 of the 18 races, with Canterbury winning the other six, giving Otago 48 overall points to Canterbury's 41.
Haruna Sakakibara proved a dominant figure throughout the regatta. The Japanese rower, who is a member of the Otago University Rowing Club, was key in helping Otago win both the women's open double sculls and women's open coxless quardruple sculls.
In the double sculls, she paired with Hannah Duggan to finish 17sec ahead of their nearest competitors in 7min 58.35sec.
One of the team's top rowers, Bryce Abernethy, came down with food poisoning on Saturday and was replaced by under-20 rower Jack Laney in the men's open coxless four. Laney delivered a big effort though, winning the race alongside Andrew Potter, Sam Wilkins and Mark Taylor. Abernethy returned to race in the men's eight, in which Otago finished second.
Things were tight after the opening day, with a strong finish from Otago leaving it in a tight tussle for first overall with Canterbury.
Otago picked up on Sunday where it left off, claiming six wins, before the women's coxed eight wrapped things up with a win.
A team of 32 rowers, which included 26 crews, contested the event for Otago. Southland and a team from Australia were also at the regatta.
In the R2K single sculls event, Sakakibara and Juliette Alm-Lequeux, both of the Otago University Rowing Club, won their races. Sakakibara finished the women's open final in 8:29.05, beating her nearest opponent by more than 15sec.
Alm-Lequeux was similarly dominant in the women's U19 race, finishing 15sec ahead of second-placed Hayley Kettings, also of Otago University Rowing Club.
