National titles awarded - Rocket Foods Championships 2020

Credit: Rowing NZ

National titles awarded - Rocket Foods Championships 2020

Clearer conditions at Lake Karapiro today saw multiple national championship titles awarded. At the conclusion of racing Waikato Rowing Club were in the lead with nine gold medals, eight silvers and one bronze.

Women’s Senior Coxed Eight (W Sen 8+) - Final

Waikato Rowing Club’s Isobel Watson (stroke), Alex Stefanovski, Stefanie Baker-Burns, Anna Gallaher, Georgia Allen, Briar Murphy, Georgia King, Justine Hobbs and Emma Barker (coxswain) took gold in the women’s senior eight (7:33.16), well ahead of Avon’s Ivana Giacon (stroke), Mollie Weston, Maeve Power, Macaela Turfus, Arlia O'Sullivan, Kendal Everest, Sophie Gowans, Marion Hardwick and Timothy Heritage (coxswain) who took silver in a time of 7:43.77. North Shore took bronze in 7:45.64.

Women’s Premier Pair (W Prem 2-) - Final

In an incredibly tight finish, Emma Dyke and Grace Prendergast (7:43.15) of Southern RPC took gold only 0.05 seconds ahead of Central’s Kerri Gowler and Beth Ross (7:43.20) in the women’s premier pair. Central’s Jackie Gowler and Ella Greenslade took bronze (7:52.78).

All medalists in the women’s premier pair event have recently been announced as part of the elite women’s sweep squad to contest World Rowing Cup II and III in the women’s eight.

Women’s Intermediate Double - (W Int 2x) - Final

Orla Cuffe (stroke) and Zoe Corboy of North Shore Rowing Club took gold in the women’s intermediate double in a time of 9:02.01, with Tauranga Rowing Club’s Mia Finlayson (stroke) and Charlize Tutbury taking silver in 9:06.25. Dunstan Arm’s Kirsty Mahoney (stroke) and Daendie de Beer took bronze.

Women’s Club Quad (W Club 4x) - Final

Holly Chaafe (stroke), Kara Crawford-Smith, Mallory Hunter and Rosemary Bremner of West End Rowing Club took gold in the women’s club quad, with Dunstan Arm’s Paige Furrie (stroke), MacKenzie Ealson, Malia Banks and Sophie Smith in silver. Hawkes Bay Rowing Club’s Kate Stewart (stroke), Madeleine Parker, Libby Stewart and Ari Wright took bronze.

West End’s Mallory Hunter also took gold in the women’s senior quad and women’s club double, and will also contest the women’s senior double A Final on Saturday.

Women’s U22 Single (W U22 1x) - Final

In only her third year of rowing, Waikato RPC’s Nina Hearn took gold in the women’s U22 single ahead of Auckland RPC’s Kate Haines taking silver and Sophie Egnot-Johnson, also of Auckland RPC, taking bronze. Hearn also won gold in the women’s U22 quad.

Men’s Club Quad (M Club 4x) - Final

Waikato Rowing Club’s Joel Clayton-Greene (stroke), Liam Herder, Sam Scantlebury and Martin Tamoaieta took gold in the men’s club quad, with Avon taking silver and Wakatipu Rowing Club in bronze.

Tamoaieta of Waikato’s winning crew competed at the 2018 and 2019 World Rowing Junior Championships in the men’s single scull representing Kiribati, and also competed at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. Later this year Tamoaieta will compete at the Oceania Olympic Qualification Regatta in South Korea.

Men’s Club Double (M Club 2x) - Final

After winning gold in the men’s club quad event, Waikato Rowing Club’s Joel Clayton-Greene (stroke) and Liam Herder took silver in the men’s club double, behind Ben Olifiers (stroke) and Isaac Jensen from Whakatane Rowing Club taking gold. Will Healey (stroke) and Zak Healey from Dunstan Arm took bronze.

Lightweight Men’s Premier Double (LM Prem 2x) - Final

Alistair Bond (stroke) and Justin Evans of Union Boat Club (Whanganui) took gold in the men’s premier lightweight double early this morning, achieving not only lightweight national champion status but also receiving gold coats (gold coloured blazers). Waikato Rowing Club’s Finn Hamill (stroke) and Logan Docherty took silver, while Dylan Crick (stroke) and Will Samson of Nelson Rowing Club took bronze.

It was a great return to the water for both Bond and Evans, who had previously rowed together as members of Southern RPC in 2011. Bond also previously represented New Zealand from 2012-2016, last competing internationally at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the lightweight men’s four where he placed fifth. Evans is now employed by High Performance Sport New Zealand and is based in the performance science team supporting Rowing NZ’s elite team.

Men’s U20 Single (M U20 1x) - Final

In a great photo finish, the final of the men’s U20 single was won by Central RPC’s Ricky Kiddle in 7:02.53. Ben Mason of Southern RPC took silver in 7:03.25 while a fierce battle for bronze was fought between Evan Williams of Takapuna Grammar Rowing Club and Seth Hope of Waikato RPC. Williams’ final time was recorded at 7:09.67, only 0.01 seconds ahead of Hope crossing the line in 7:09.68.

Silver medalist Ben Mason and fourth placed Seth Hope were part of the 2019 New Zealand Junior team who competed at the World Junior Rowing Championships in Tokyo, Japan and placed sixth in the men’s quad event.