BY DAVID OGILVIE David.ogilvie@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
Central RPC and Union rowing coach Calvin Ferguson says the sport's club structure has so far survived the establishment of the regional performance centres.
He suggests that's shown by the strong senior entries in the national championships starting today in Twizel. "The fields in the senior ranks are really full this year compared to last year."
Those aren't totally backed up by the under-21 grade, which sees most of the events go straight through to finals, but Ferguson isn't worried by this.
"I kind of think that with the RPCs in the under-21, a lot of the club rowers think they are not going to beat them ? so they might as well do senior instead.
"But it's good in the sense that with the RPCs alive and very strong, the senior ranks can still be very strong as well in the club ranks.
"It didn't collapse the club structure like a lot of clubs have been worried about," Ferguson said. "It's probably strengthened it more."
Ferguson and the RPC crews arrived in Twizel on Saturday, and with Lake Ruataniwha closed on Sunday they were forced to train on Lake Ohau.
"Weather for the week looks good, and it's been around 31deg every day since we've been here ? so it's pretty warm."
All crews will race today, even the ones going through to the straight finals. They will be rowing for lane positions.
Ferguson says his key under-21 girls quad of Harriet Austin, Anna Stantiall, Brook Thomas (Blenheim) and Hannah Starnes (Blenheim) will "have a blow-out over the first half, and just take it easy over the second."
He also remains keen on his senior women's quad of Michelle McKenzie, Sarah Kelly, Cassie Stanford and Rachel Gallagher.
Union has 20 rowers in the championships, 11 of them female club rowers, and nine members of the Central RPC squad which is jointly coached by Ferguson.
Union's RPC reps are: Austin, Stantiall, Charlotte Burson, Rachael O'Connor; Mikkel Nielsen, Matt Archibald, Elliot Riley, Scott Vanderbosch, and Justin Evans.
The club rowers are: McKenzie, Gallagher, Stanford, Kelly, Kirsty Calman, Ashlea Stanford, Tessa Gudsell, Bethany Hopper, Joanna Nyenhuis, Lory Ross and Claire McGuiness.
Union club captain Stuart Kelly says Union has three RPC crews fully from their members.
Aramoho also has good numbers at Twizel. Attempts to contact team management were unsuccessful yesterday because of travelling time.
The championships start today with a mass of heats, go to repecharges tomorrow, semi-finals on Thursday and finals on Friday and Saturday.
Club structure still strong: Ferguson
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