Heat goes on at world champs

Kiwi rowers Eric Murray and Emma Twigg are poised to race in their respective finals at the world champs Korea. PHOTO/FILE

Racing is under way in the 2013 World Rowing Championships on the Tangeum Lake International Regatta course at Chungju in the Republic of Korea. New Zealand has 14 crews involved and they have been in Korea for two weeks. It is hot and humid but water conditions are good.

Heats have been held and repechage heats are under way and by the time this article appears in the Chronicle we should have a good indication of which crews are going to make the A-finals.

In the heats New Zealand had four crews coming first, five second, two third, one fourth and two fifth. Of the winning crews Hamish Bond and Eric Murray recorded 6 mins 32.7 secs, the fastest winning time in the men's coxless pairs. They finished 13.45s ahead of Great Britain who came second in their heat.

Mahe Drysdale won his heat in the men's single sculls in 7m 2.07s. There were six heats in his event and two of the winning times were faster than his. Emma Twigg won her heat in the women's single sculls in 7m 39.77s. The only other heat was won in a faster time. The other New Zealand crew to win their heat was the men's lightweight coxless four. Their time was 5m 58.49s, the second fastest of the three heats in this event. The crew comprised James Hunter, James Lassche, Peter Taylor and Curtis Rapley.

The New Zealand crews that were second were the men's double sculls, the women's double sculls, the women's coxless pair, the lightweight women's single sculls and the lightweight women's double sculls.

There should be a good race in the men's eight between the two heat winners Germany and Great Britain who recorded times of 5m 30.91s and 5m 32.77s.

Back on the home front the AGM of the Wanganui Rowing Association was held on Sunday in the Aramoho Whanganui Club shed. Just 14 were present and the day's business was completed in 33 minutes. The following officers were elected for the coming season: President: Gus Scott, Vice-President: Bob Evans, Treasurer: Barbara Saunders and Secretary: Stephanie Rush. The main function of the association is to organise and run the various regattas, namely the Winter Long Distance Series, the Tonks Small Boat race, the Wanganui 10km race for Eights in conjunction with the Head of the River for Small Boats, the Jury Cup Regatta and the Billy Webb Challenge and the Wanganui Club Championships.

Footnote: This is not about rowing but I noticed in the papers over the weekend the report that Otago had defeated Waikato for the Ranfurly Shield and that this was the first time that Otago had held the Ranfurly Shield since 1957. This stirred my memory! Back in 1957 Otago won the Ranfurly Shield off Wellington who they beat 19-11 on Saturday, August 24.

Otago were on a Northern Tour and the next week they played Wanganui on Spriggens Park and were defeated 19-5. Unfortunately for Wanganui the Shield was not at stake. The match certainly remains in my memory as the Rugby Almanack records that a certain P Irvine scored two tries in that match which is certainly not true - one maybe but two is stretching it a bit. The Almanack certainly got that wrong.

On returning home Otago defended the Shield in two challenges and lost the second one to Taranaki 11-9.