Peak performers

The Otago eight of Phoebe Barratt (cox), Oscar Ruston (stroke), Tom Tothill, Oliver Fahey, Henry Kirk, Henry Clatworthy, Connor Bacchus, Logan Docherty, and Angus Kenny lead at the start of the men’s open race at the Mainland Interprovincial Championships on Lake Ruataniwha at the weekend.

Otago finished third in the race behind Canterbury and Marlborough. Otago, Canterbury, Marlborough and Southland competed for the right to be crowned top province while Auckland also took part but was ineligible to claim the title.

The championships came down to the last race, Otago just needing to finish in front of Canterbury to claim the title.

However, Canterbury did enough to narrowly win the championships ahead of Otago.

Marlborough was third and Southland fourth.

Auckland finished level on points with Canterbury.

The provincial championships were preceded on Saturday by the R2K championships consisting of singles only.

The early-season regatta acted as a warm-up for events to come.