Hometown pride on the line

TOUGH COMPETITION: The Wanganui District Council crew with their broken oar during the 2012 event. Snapped by Mandy Gedye.PHOTO/27112014WCSUPCORP2

While the big names such as Mahe Drysdale and Hamish Bond will be battling it out for the Aon Billy Webb trophy on Sunday, there is plenty of hometown and team pride on the line in the Aon Jury Cup's corporate eight challenge on the Whanganui River.

The support races to the main event, held Saturday and Sunday, are eight-person coxed crews events.

Heats in the regatta tomorrow will decide the starting spots for the final on Sunday, with racing about 30 minutes before the Billy Webb event.

There are five entries - defending 2012 champions Aon Risk Takers, their out-of-town work colleagues Aon Hawkes from the Hawke's Bay, the Stonewood Nailers, Stringrays Haden & Custance from Hastings, and the Leading Edge crew from Wanganui District Council.

While they are different work offices, there are plenty of connections between the crews, including several for noteworthy rowing families.

Spokeswoman Jacs Rush said the Aon Wanganui vs Aon Hawkes Bay will be a good tussle, as the Hawke's Bay office has been training hard.

Sue O'Leary will serve as coxwain of the Risk Takers, pitting her up against husband Jamie O'Leary and their sons Anthony and Daniel, captain and crew respectively with the Stonewood Nailers.

"Sue also works for the local family owned business and was asked to cox for the crew, but instead chose to again cox for the reigning champions," said Rush.

The Leading Edge crew also has close ties as Bob Evans serves as coach to a team, which includes wife Jennie in the "experienced rower" position.

Bob Evans has been involved with the sport for many years, having served as a former Wanganui Rowing Association president and current member of the Rowing NZ board.

The council crew has experience of returning rowers from the previous event, including Kevin Ross, Jennie Evans and Mandy Gedye.

"Mandy is one to keep an eye out for because during the last event's final she snapped her oar in two, such was her powerful stroke," said Rush, suggesting it was a good thing the race is sponsored by insurance brokers.

The team will not have former world champion rower and councillor Phillipa Baker-Hogan, who is making a comeback in the individual Billy Webb Challenge.

Risk Takers are coached by Trevor Rush, who will also compete in the Billy Webb race.

The accomplished rower, a former two-time Wanganui Sports Awards recipient, has competed in the team's events previously, including Aon's 2012 win.

He will now be coaching Pat Spriggens in the Risk Takers crew, who was also a former winner of this event with the Display Associates team at the first corporate eight event.

Spriggens won multiple national titles over his career at elite and masters level.

"He is well known in rowing circles for having the highest rating of any stroke out there," said Jacs Rush.

"Watch for this crew rating higher than any other - keep an eye on those behind him just trying to keep up."

The regatta starts on Saturday.