Rowers return with 10 medals

The Wairau Rowing Club contingent returned from the recent South Island championships at Lake Ruataniwha with five gold medals, three silvers and two bronze.

Wairau’s potent mix of senior athletes, plus rowers from Marlborough Girls’ and Boys’ Colleges, enjoyed the superb rowing conditions and a chance to put their training into action as they prepared for bigger regattas further down the track.

Wairau RC coach Mark James described it as a “fabulous regatta”.

“We were a little bit worried that we were in the big time but [the crews] really fired, which is great.

“With the school rowers still in holiday mode you wonder how they will perform, but for them to be properly refreshed and excited to be back together again, I think that makes a difference. They have a month or so before going back to Ruataniwha for the South Island schools champs so there is a lot of work for them to do, but a good start.”

Among the senior crews, Mark said one in particular stood out.

“Mark Stallard’s crew of Fred Vavasour and Henry Kirk were outstanding, just outstanding … which bears testament to the amount of hard work they have done. They have certainly worked harder than anybody else in the club.”

He also pointed to the efforts of the men’s club pair of Liam Kirkland and James Ripley, who picked up their first gold medal at this level, a reward for perseverance.

Also of note was the feat of former MGC rower Lexi Timpson, who picked up bronze in the women’s senior single.

“It was fantastic to see her in the individual event really putting it out there,” said Mark.

Next up for the senior Wairau contingent is the week-long nationals at Ruataniwha from February 18-22.

SI champs medal haul

GOLD

Men’s premier pair (Fred Vavasour, Henry Kirk)

Women’s senior pair (Daisy Vavasour, Mila van Rensburg)

Men’s senior double (Ashley-James Fitzgerald, Fynn Allison)

Women’s club pair (Eliza Glover, Georgette Herkt)

Men’s club pair (Liam Kirkland, James Ripley)

SILVER

Girls under 15 quad (Charlie Bennett, Poppy Fernandez, Izzy McLauchlan, Emma Eyles, Hayley Sutherland - cox)

Women’s intermediate four (Bennett, Maisie Shenfield, Fernandez, Eyles, Sutherland – cox)

Women’s under-19 four (Glover, Herkt, Lily Smith, Iris Vavasour, Molly Hoban – cox)

BRONZE

Women’s senior single (Lexi Timpson)

Girls under 15 octuple sculls (Bennett, Eyles, Shenfield, Daisy Lindstrom, Ruby Lindstrom, Fernandez, McLauchlan, Georgie Fissenden, Sutherland – cox)