The Whanganui rowing contingent saved their best for last at the World Masters Games with 11 medals including five gold on the final day of competition on Friday.
The mixed boat races saw Aramoho Wanganui Rowing Club and Union Boat Club members team up with one another, as well asother guests, on Lake Karapiro to 'hit the cycle' for every local to get at least one medal after the week of competition.
"Everybody just punched so far above their weight," said AWRC's Jacs Rush.
"My sister Steph did five races on Friday and medalled in every single one of them." Father Trevor Rush completed an outstanding games to have claimed nine medals overall, including four gold.
A big highlight was the AWRC members combining with four German athletes - Franzi Schubert, Sylvia Nicolaus, Jutta Abromeit and Vroni Zimmert - to win the Mixed G grade Eight's gold.
Rush said the oldest of the German women, 77, had wanted to come to the games but was only encouraged when the others agreed to join her, which just happen to include some former East German international competitors from the 1980's.
"They were built like rowers," Rush said about the Germans - two of whom towered above Allan Luff, Garth Hammond, Ewen Noble, Bruce Osborne and Sue O'Leary.
"They just loved it, came back completely glowing."
The Mixed G 8+ crew who won gold. The team consisted of Allan Luff, Garth Hammond, Ewen Noble, Bruce Osborne, Franzi Schubert, Sylvia Nicolaus, Jutta Abromeit, Vroni Zimmert, Sue O'Leary.
Despite being more regular sized, both Steph and Jacs Rush were proud of their efforts as they won medals against crews which included former New Zealand Olympic greats like Nicky Coles, who retired after the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
UBC's former Olympian Philippa Baker-Hogan finished with six medals from the games, tied with AWRC's Richard Brock, Steph Rush and O'Leary for the next highest individual hauls behind Trevor Rush.
Phillipa Baker-Hogan and Pat Carroll celebrate their win.
Results from Friday
Gold - Mixed G 8+ (Allan Luff, Garth Hammond, Ewen Noble, Bruce Osborne, Franzi Schubert, Sylvia Nicolaus, Jutta Abromeit, Vroni Zimmert, Sue O'Leary; Mixed D-E 4x (Pat Carroll, Martin Bridger, Philippa Baker-Hogan, Tash Carver); Mixed E 2x (Trevor Rush, Steph Rush); Mixed E 8+ (Richard Brock, Trevor Rush, Murray Carey, Tony Upchurch, Steph Rush, Philippa Baker-Hogan, Tash Carver, Jacs Rush, Sue O'Leary); Mixed D 2X (Philippa Baker-Hogan, Pat Carroll).
Silver - Mixed E 4x (Trevor Rush, Richard Brock, Steph Rush, Jacs Rush); Mixed D 4+ (Pat Spriggens, Tony Upchurch, Tash Carver, Jacs Rush, Sue O'Leary; Mixed E 2x (Murray Stewart, Port Chalmers member); Mixed F 4+ (Murray Carey, Tony Upchurch, Port Chalmers members).
Bronze - Mixed D 2x (Pat Spriggens, Steph Rush); Mixed D 8+ (Pat Spriggens, Murray Carey, Murray Stewart, Tony Upchurch, Steph Rush, Philippa Baker-Hogan, Tash Carver, Jacs Rush, Sue O'Leary).
