Four golds for elite rowers

Three of Whanganui's elite rowers came away with gold medals from the NZ Rowing Championship Regatta in Twizel last week.

Competition proper began on Wednesday after the opening day saw high winds on the course, before concluding on Saturday.

Representing the Central Regional Performance Centre (RPC), Chris Harris and his Olympic Games partner Robbie Manson maintained their dominance of the men's premier double sculls with a comfortable win in the A final, as their 6m 23.02s time was over two seconds ahead of their nearest rival.

Harris had already secured a silver in the premier coxless quad sculls with crewmates Jack O'Leary, Troy O'Reilly and Karl Manson.

In the Under 22 events, there was success for Jackie Gowler, who teamed with Ella Greenslade for a big win in the coxless pair oars, as their 7m 39.54s time was over five seconds clear.

Rowing for the Waikato RPC, Whanganui expat Martyn O'Leary had an excellent regatta with two golds and a silver.

O'Leary teamed with Charlie Rogerson to come second in U22 coxless pair oars, and then they were joined by Lucas Clarke and Ruben Houghton to win the coxless four.

O'Leary's nationals culminated with gold and the sort-after red coat in the men's premier coxed eight, as his crew powered to a 5m 32.85s win.

There was disappointment for Union Boat Club's multiple Olympic medallist Rebecca Scown, as she was teaming with Whanganui's Kerri Gowler, along with Ruby Tew and Kirstyn Goodger, when they were disqualified in the A final of the premier coxless four.

Scown, both the Gowler sisters, and another expat in Nicola Baker were then in the women's premier coxed eight who won the silver behind Southern RPC.

Kerri Gowler had also teamed with Tew to claim bronze in the premier coxless pair oars.
Baker got a silver in the U22 coxless quad sculls - teaming with Ella Toa, Hannah Bailey and Ella Pudney - while Baker and Bailey also took bronze in the double sculls.