Masters rowers relish Picton regatta

The South Island Masters Rowing Championships, staged in Picton Harbour over King’s Birthday Weekend, were a resounding success.

Two hundred and eighty-six rowers attended, representing 17 different clubs, coming from as far afield as Invercargill and Cambridge.

Queen Charlotte Yacht Club was the perfect venue and the weather conditions on Saturday were ideal leading to some exciting racing and some fast times on the 8k long distance race. On Sunday the forecast was not ideal, but fortunately the weather held, allowing organisers to manage the whole programme, with little delay.

Organisers were quick to praise the co-operation of fellow harbour users, particularly Bluebridge and Interislander, plus local tour operators and their many sponsors and supporters.

Host club Picton produced one of the largest squads racing, with 26 rowers, and came away second in the Overall Points Trophy, just pipped by Union who fielded 39 rowers.

The Picton club is on a roll, building its membership over the last 18 months from four active rowers to over 40. The new rowers having all joined the club through the Social Coastal Rowing Programme, progressing to the flatwater boats.

Organisers said, “For these new rowers, it was a huge learning curve and their first time at the event - both rowing, helping in safety boats, behind the scenes in the control box, handing out medals, and organising refreshments and the after party”.

Overall Picton crews picked up 16 wins, with a further nine crews reached the podium.

The four Gaudin brothers were to the fore, Ryan and Keiran combining to win one pairs title, Shae and Hayden picking up another. The four siblings joined forces to take out the coxless four title, pipping Dunstan by half a metre.

Also notable was the return of Kristian Fuller after 30 years out of the boat. He picked up three golds as did his brother Dane, a former NZ lightweight rep.

In total Ryan Gaudin picked up nine golds, Keiran, Shae and Hayden bagged seven, Mark Patterson six and James Ashley four.

Of special note for the home club was the effort of the Picton eight, comprising Keiran Gaudin, Dane Fuller, Hayden Gaudin, Ryan Gaudin, Kristian Fuller, Daniel Karena, James Ashley, Shae Gaudin and cox Jamie Cunningham, in winning the long-distance race and Ryan Gaudin’s victory in the men’s singles.

Maia Bahlsen, Jill Evans, Bronwyn Lane, Debbie Odell with cox Maea Novero took out the women’s novice quad title.

Also in action were members of the Blenheim Rowing Club, rowing in a regatta for the first time since 2019, due to COVID and other restrictions.

Club members competed in 14 events over the two days, coming away with gold in eight events, silver in three and bronze in another.

It was also the first time since 2013 Blenheim Masters were able to enter an eight at a regatta, coming away with victories in the mixed eight, women’s eight and men’s eight in various age categories.

Crews to stand out were the mixed quad (E-K) combination of Cynthia de Joux, Sarah Lissaman, Steve Mason and Shane Rohloff; the women’s eight (A-D) of Marjolein van Velthuijsen, de Joux, Lissaman, Rebecca Wilson, Regan Southon, Suzy Scorer, Amy McMullan, Melissa Cragg and cox Kristy Udy, the women four (A-D) of van Velthuijsen, de Joux, Lissaman and Cragg, plus the mixed eight (E-K) involving van Velthuijsen, de Joux, Lissaman, Barry Sayer, Mason, McMullan, Rohloff, Willie Parker and cox Maddison Southon.