Computer fails but rowers shine

It was a brisk Sunday morning for a row along Whanganui River for the fifth race of the 2016 Winter Series.

It was the single rowers who dominated the 9km September race of the Wanganui Rowing Association's Winter Series on Sunday morning.

There were 27 entries of rowboats, wakas and kayaks of various sizes for the fifth race of the series, with the placings decided on "prognostic time" - where the best is the entry whose finishes with the highest percentage of the world record time for their boat class.

Spokeswoman Jacs Rush said while officials were certain they got all the placings correct from Sunday's race, the precise percentages for each prognostic time may be slightly relative, as they had to deal with a laptop malfunction right before the start.

"They handled it really, really well and switched back to manual timing at the last minute."

It was confirmed that Union Boat Club's former world champion Phillipa Baker-Hogan was the September winner, with a 91.46 percentage from her near estimated 41m 11s time, just ahead of perennial Aramoho Wanganui RC contender Trevor Rush (90 per cent from 39m 41s).

Both Baker-Hogan and Rush were preparing for individual competition at the NZ Masters, being held at Lake Karapiro this coming weekend, which a solid Whanganui contingent will be attending.

Third was Star RC's Kyle Malone in the club rower grade (88.9 per cent for 36m 58s), while Star and Clifton RC crews finished fourth and fifth.

"The singles ruled the roost, if you will, in the conditions," said Jacs Rush.

"Fantastic water for it, because the tide was going out. Three kilometres up and 6km with the tide."

The Star RC pair of Valerie Chan and Vanessa McCormack surprised spectators as they came to the side of the Whanganui River midway through the race.

"A Star women's club double snapped an oar, opposite the Aramoho rowing club," said Rush.

"They were helped in and borrowed an oar, so they finished."

The sixth and final race of the Winter Series will be the 10km race, which is also the Dick Tonks Trophy event, on October 9.