The new Bond and Murray? Phillipa Baker-Hogan believes Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler can dominate on the world stage.
The new Bond and Murray? Phillipa Baker-Hogan believes Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler can dominate on the world stage.
The 2017-18 New Zealand rowing season is daringly close, although like many sports it's hard to see where one season ends and another starts, as sports revolve more and more around 12 month calendars.
The preparation done in the off-months is likely to pay real dividends in the critical periodwhen medals are handed out, although keeping the balance for our youngsters to ensure their longevity in the sport is vital.
Our elite kiwi rowers will now have a deserved 4-6 week break before heading into a slightly shorter year to build for the 2018 World Champs in Bulgaria in mid September 2018.
Our team came away with 3 gold, 2 silver and 2 Bronze medals to be ranked the second nation overall at the champs, which must rate as a high pass mark in the build up to 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Once again, our small boat pedigree dominated our results, with only the bronze from our Women's Eight ticking the big boat category - showing how hard it is to build strength across the spectrum from a four million population base.
Whanganui-bred rowers and coaches showed their class yet again with both Kerri Gowler and Chris Harris winning gold in the Women's Pair and Men's Double respectively, with Rebecca Scown yet again picking up a medal in the Women's Eight.
Although it was not the colour she was after, Scown's team stamped the Womens Eight as a consistent top 3 performer and they have the attitude and ability to claim a top spot on the podium in Tokyo.
I think many of us see Gowler and her team-mate Grace Prendergast in the pair as the new Bond and Murray, such is their ability, and it must have been bitter-sweet for Chris Harris and John Storey to win their first ever world championship in gutsy fashion - following Harris' wrist injury at Rio 2016, which left him and partner Robbie Manson out of the A final.
Whanganui-reared rowers Chris Harris and Rebecca Scown with mayor Hamish McDouall at Cooks Gardens last year.
Whanganui-bred coach Calvin Fergusson would have been delighted with his two medals in the Men's Double and Lightweight single while expat and current head Australian Men's coach Ian Wright's had his Men's Coxless Four storm away in a smooth, high rating fashion to claim gold.
For the first time in 20 years, multiple Olympic Gold medal winning coach Dick Tonks watched the champs from his home in the Waikato.
On a local note, the new season is imminent, with the final Winter Series event - the aptly named Tonks 6km small boat race - being held 9am this Sunday.
It starts and finishes at the Aramoho 2km finish line and turns at the National Library Building towards the Waimarie.
This is a final chance for those that have done a few miles over winter to show their heels and see if the infamous Trevor Rush can be beaten - hoping his trip to Florida to watch the Kiwi rowers did nothing to enhance his own boat speed!
From October 16, the summer season will properly kick into gear with schools back and local coaches working routines to build towards success at 2018 Maadi Cup, held late March in Twizel, or prepare adult rowers for NZ Club Champs in mid February.
As I've commented previously, there is an energy and focus building around Whanganui rowing, with a "Whanganui Inc" model being harnessed.
Head coaches Pedro Figueira (Aramoho) and Dave Lindstrom (Collegiate) with their volunteer teams under them are particularly focused, while Union Boat Club is considering its options but totally reliant on volunteer coaches at this point.
Another highlight for our local community is the Billy Webb Challenge on Sunday, November 26, with double Olympic Gold medallist Mahe Drysdale and Robbie Manson, the world record holder and recent world champ finalist, being confirmed.
A raft of other top international rowers is expected to line up, the day after our premier regatta, the Jury Cup.
