Editorial: Whanganui in the spotlight ... and it doesn't disappoint

Mark Dawson, editor of Wanganui Chronicle

There's a rugby league World Cup causing some excitement, an Ashes test series under way and the All Blacks won again ...

But for a spell this weekend the sporting spotlight shone on Whanganui — and the River City did not disappoint.

The Billy Webb Challenge is a marquee event that would grace Auckland or a major overseas venue but, happily, it thrives in the homely atmosphere of Whanganui where world-class athletes fight it out on the awa while locals picnic on the riverbank.

Yesterday's event was another great occasion and cause for Whanganui to swell its chest with a bit of collective pride.

A well-organised showpiece was smoothly delivered, with conditions near perfect and the river glistening centre stage.

Credit to the backers of the race, and to the many volunteers helping the Wanganui Rowing Association put on this logistically-complex event.

Credit, too, to that old warhorse Mahe Drysdale, the five-times world champion and double Olympic gold medallist turning up to be beaten again, hopefully knowing that his presence is a huge inspiration to the many young rowers hanging around the boatshed just to get close to the great man.

The river was also alive with action on Saturday, with hundreds of athletes competing in the Billy Webb warm-up, also known as the Jury Cup club regatta.

The two events made for a long and tiring weekend for those rowing club stalwarts who organise these things. I hope they know it was well worth it.

One lesson from Saturday was that nobody owns the river. While Taupo Quay could be blocked off for the Billy Webb showdown, the river was open to all as the Jury Cup rowers battled their way down the two-kilometre course.

The Waimarie and Wairua went by, there were water scooters and jetskis out for a blast, and a flotilla of small runaround boats with kids and dogs on board.

There could have been the equivalent of road rage but, instead, there was only co-operation and consideration by all — the rowers pausing for the pleasure boats, the others idling quietly down the edge of the east bank so as not to disturb the racing. Good to see.