Hi ho silver for Wairau rowers

A brace of silver medals to young Wairau Rowing Club athletes Fred Vavasour and Henry Kirk highlighted the club’s efforts at the recent New Zealand championships on Lake Ruataniwha.

Wairau fielded 21 athletes at the annual champs, which began on Tuesday at the iconic venue, coming away with three silver medals and a string of A final placings.

On Tuesday the men’s under-22 pair of Fred Vavasour and Henry Kirk won their heat, progressing directly to Thursday’s A final where they claimed a silver medal, being narrowly shaded by the Avon crew comprising Oliver Welch and Cody Johnston.

On Saturday they repeated the dose, finishing second by around four seconds to Avon in the men’s premier pair decider, this time Welch being joined by Ben Taylor in the winning boat.

Vavasour came through the Marlborough Boys’ college programme, while Kirk recently joined Wairau after competing for Otago Boys’ High School. Both have represented New Zealand at age group level. They are coached by Mark Stallard.

The third medal under Wairau’s name was won in a combined club eight. Wairau rowers Liam Kirkland and James Ripley joined forces with Sam Johnston, Ollie Hawkins, Ryan Flintoft, Ethan Steele and cox Brianna Williams from Nelson, plus Hamish McIntosh and Ashton Corkery from Cure to finish as the second Kiwi crew.

Several other Wairau crews competed in A finals over the five days.

In the men’s under-22 single sculls, Ashley-James Fitzgerald finished eighth, the same position as Lexi Timpson in the women’s under-22 single medal decider.

The men’s club four of Wairau’s Liam Kirkland and Ripley, plus Nelson’s Flintoft and Steele, finished second in their semifinal and fifth in their A final.

In the men’s single double Fitzgerald and Fynn Allison combined for a second place in their heat, also progressing directly to the A final where they finished eighth.

The women’s senior four of Daisy Vavasour, Mila van Rensburg, plus Nelson’s Naomi Robertson and Millie Treder came home fifth in their A final.

In the under-22 double final Fitzgerald and Allison came fifth with Flynn Mercer and Liam Collins one place further back.

The senior quad, comprising Fitzgerald, Allison, Mercer and Collins came fifth in their medal decider.

Former Wairau rower Robbie Manson underlined his longevity with some strong performances.

The three-time Olympian, rowing for Waikato, won the premier double with Oscar Ruston and was second in the men’s premier single.

Major National Club Awards:

Centennial Oar (overall champion club): Waikato Rowing Club

Centennial Scull: Waikato Rowing Club

Hallyburton Johnstone Rose Bowl: Canterbury Rowing Association