Winners . . . grinners

SWEET VICTORY: Joshua Kelly raises his fist in triumph after combining with Isaac Kinder, Sebastian Solomann, Oscar Ruston and cox Pippa Jones to win the men’s club coxed quad A final at the Hawke’s Bay Cup regatta on Clive River. Pictures by Steve McArthur/Rowing Celebration

Gisborne Rowing Club crews have hit the water running for the 2019 competition season.

The first regatta of the year — the Hawke’s Bay Cup — was held on Clive River earlier this month and Gisborne performed strongly in testing conditions.

Gisborne competitors joined rowers from Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, Whanganui, Taupo and Hamilton.

While the regatta was not a national event, it was a good test for the Gisborne school-aged rowers, who competed in club and open categories often against older and more experienced athletes.

“River racing is not like what you see at the Olympics,” said Gisborne Rowing Club president Peter Simmons. “There are no lanes and collisions do happen. It’s rough, fast and exciting.

“Our crews performed really well in some tough conditions — heat, shallow water, mud, weed, tides and, of course, the bridge.”

New pairing Isaac Kururangi and Benjamin Blakeman provided early honours for the club in winning the men’s novice double scull A final.

Coach Luke Jenkins said the pair were fit, strong boys, who had taken impressively to the sport.

“It’s great to see a novice crew working well together after only a few months,” said Jenkins.

“They really wanted to win and they pulled it off.”

The Gisborne crew of Isaac Kinder, Sebastian Solomann, Oscar Ruston, Joshua Kelly and cox Pippa Jones (cox can be male or female) dominated in winning the men’s club coxed quad.

“We are looking strong this season and enjoying the success that happens after three years of hard work,” said Jenkins.

The male crews weren’t the only ones to enjoy success.

Phoebe Naske and Hannah Veitch won the women’s club double scull.

“It was a great effort from a relatively young crew,” said women’s coach Alex Hyland.

“Phoebe was a novice last year so she has come along nicely. Hannah is a real powerhouse. She also had a great race in the open double sculls A final with Presley Gibson.”

Gisborne’s focus has shifted to the first major national regattas of 2019 — the North Island club championships and Cambridge Town Cup, both in late January.