Wānaka Rowing Club sent 17 junior rowers to the Meridian South Island Club Rowing Champs at Lake Ruataniwha, Twizel, from February 1-2, with one crew bringing back silver.

The Wānaka rowers were supported by coach Angus Todd and assistant coaches Anton Jones and Phillip Massey, while coach Rob Bruce was involved in umpiring the event. 

The racks were filled with racing boats and skiffs from across the South Island and spectators enjoyed dazzling heats on Saturday and hard fought finals on Sunday.

Having placed second in their heat with a time of 7.45.30 on the 2km course in the Men’s Novice Coxed Quad Sculls, the Wānaka crew qualified in lane three for the A final on Sunday.

Building on their strong start, Lachlan Hay (stroke), Douglas Wise (3 seat), MacKenzie Hay (2 seat), Tyler Gawn (bow) and Emily Hunt (coxswain) maintained the pressure down the course, shredding their qualifying time to finish behind gold medallists Oamaru in 7.26.97, and fighting off Cashmere by split seconds to claim silver.

Silver medallist crew (from left): Douglas Wise, MacKenzie Hay, Tyler Gawn, Lachlan Hay, Angus Todd (coach) and Emily Hunt (front, coxswain).

Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College junior rowers are now counting down to the Maadi Cup on Lake Karapiro (March 24). 

As a fundraising initiative the Wānaka crews are doing gardening and yard work for $30 an hour per rower. People looking for fit, strong, hardworking, well disciplined rowers to undertake suitable work can contact [email protected] to book a crew.

PHOTOS: Supplied