Heats begin at 2020 Rocket Foods Championships

Credit: Rowing NZ

Heats begin at 2020 Rocket Foods Championships

Racing began this morning at the 2020 Rocket Foods New Zealand Rowing Championships in pristine conditions at Lake Karapiro.

This is the pinnacle domestic rowing event in New Zealand with the country's top rowers competing for illustrious national championship honours.

Heats were contested for 65 of a total 81 events today, with all remaining heat races concluding tomorrow morning and repechages beginning at 11am.

Women’s Intermediate Coxed Four (W Int 4+)

The women’s intermediate coxed four event had 10 entries from nine clubs and was raced over two heats. Tauranga Rowing Club’s Mia Finlayson (stroke), Emily Holland, Charlize Tutbury, Maddison Shanks and Aine Taylor (coxswain) placed first in heat one, with Petone Rowing Club’s Ella Livingston (stroke), Rylee Tafa, Zoey Kung, Isabelle Sears and Jemma Allwood (coxswain) placing first in heat two. Tauranga and Petone Rowing Club are joined by second placing Takapuna Grammar and Wellington Rowing Clubs in progressing straight to the A Final. All remaining crews progress to repechages.

Women’s U22 Single Sculls (W U22 1x)

The women’s U22 single scull event received 9 entries across from clubs and Rowing Performance Centres (RPC). Otago University Rowing Club’s Juliette Alm-Lequeux took first place in a time of 7:52.45, ahead of Waikato RPC’s Nina Hearn in second and Auckland RPC’s Kate Haines in third. With two entries scratched, all seven remaining crews progress to the A Final.

Women’s Premier Pair (W Prem 2-)

The women’s premier pair event received six entries from Auckland, Central and Southern RPC. Central RPC’s Kerri Gowler and Beth Ross placed first (7:06.47), Southern RPC’s Phoebe Spoors and Grace Prendergast placed second (7:11.04) and Southern’s Davina Waddy and Lucy Spoors placed third (7:12.72). All six crews progress to the A Final.

Women’s Novice Double Scull (W Nov 2x)

20 entries were received in the women’s novice double scull event, with three crews entered for both Clifton Rowing Club and North Shore Rowing Club. Contested across three heats, the first four crews in each race progress to the Semi-Final with all others moving to repechages.

Giuliana Petronelli (stroke) and Rosie Petronelli of Avondale Rowing Club placed first on heat one, Auckland Rowing Club’s Katie Ryan (stroke) and Imogen Foley placed first in heat two, and Olivia Leask (stroke) and Ella Price of Petone Rowing Club took first in heat three.

Men’s Premier Pair (M Prem 2-)

The men’s premier pair event received eight entries from RPCs and the New York Athletic Club. Representing Southern RPC, Hamish Bond and James Lassche placed first in this morning’s heat in 6:25.77 with Auckland RPC’s Michael Brake and Cameron Webster placing second (6:29.50). Tom Murray and Philip Wilson of Central RPC placed third (6:29.81). All eight crews progress to the A Final.

Men’s pair crew Connor Corwen (stroke) and Veton Celaj of The New York Athletic Club are training in New Zealand at West End Rowing Club under coach Nick Dawe. Corwen and Celaj studied and trained together at Bucknell University, Pennsylvania. Corwen and Celaj have raced together many times in the past, including Henley Royal Regatta and wins at Royal Canadian Henley and the US Nationals - with 2020 being their first year together in the pair. Veton has previously been a member of the USA Pan American rowing team in the men’s four and eight. The duo will return to the US at the conclusion of the Rocket Foods New Zealand Rowing Championships to target World Cup and Olympic qualification.

Men’s Club Coxed Four (M Club 4+)

The men’s club coxed four event received 13 entries, with four from Waikato Rowing Club. Raced across two heats, the first two placing crews in each race progressed to the A Final, with remaining crews moving to repechages. Auckland Rowing Club’s Adam Clark (stroke), Max Burggraaf, Robson Wallace, Xavier Smidt and Callum Miller (coxswain) placed first in heat one, with Waikato Rowing Club’s Joshua Gordon (stroke), Joshua Vodanovich, Blair Ellis, Tait Wilson and Kieran Joyce (coxswain) placing first in heat two. Wellington and West End Rowing Club also progress to the A Final.

Men’s U22 Single Scull (M U22 1x)

The men’s U22 single scull received 16 entries, with two heats being contested and first and second place in both races progressing straight to the A Final. In heat one Murphy Waters of Auckland RPC took first with Southern RPC’s Bradley Leydon taking second. Heat two saw Jonte Wright of Waikato RPC take first place and Southern’s Mark Taylor in second.

Men’s Senior Eight (M Sen 8+)

The men’s senior eight event received eight entries, with two crews from both North Shore and Waikato Rowing Clubs. Waikato Rowing Club’s Joel Engelke (stroke), Charlie Rogerson, Manawa McLaughlin, Matthew Handford, Henry Wills, Daniel Tomlinson, James Brott, Max Wilson and Caleb Shepherd (coxswain) took first place with Avon Rowing Club in second and Auckland Grammar Rowing Club in third. All eight crews progress to the A Final.