The Top 3 of the men's elite race - New Zealand's Jordan Parry, Germany's Tim Ole Naske, and Croatia's Damir Martin.
It had been touted as the rematch between the world's two dominant Olympic single scullers, and instead it was the young guns who mutinied on the Whanganui River and caused an boilover in the Billy Webb Challenge yesterday.
Multiple time champion Mahe Drysdale and his Croatian rival Damir Martin had to play second fiddle to young German Tim Ole Naske and Tauranga's NZ elite squad member Jordan Parry on the 2.5km slog against the current and wind up the river, before the buoy turn and rapid sprint back down to the Taupo Quay wharf.
Martin would chase hard on the downward beat and managed to haul in another Kiwi young gun in John Storey, who had tussled with Parry when they reached the buoy turn, with a little bit of a shunt between them.
But none could catch the flying Under 23 world champion, as Naske picked his line on the river and could not be headed, with Parry pulling in behind him for an impressive second, followed by the too-late Martin and then Drysdale, with the tiring Storey in fifth.
The 2014 Philippa Baker-Hogan Women's Race winner Lucy Spoors would take that crown again as the first woman home ahead of fellow elite racer Brooke Donoghue.
Drysdale and Martin had started conservatively on stroke rate with the seven elite men's field at the head of 35 rowers in various categories.
But Storey, Parry and Naske had the blind faith of youth that there was nothing in the head wind and tide that should stop them going hard from the opening, and by the time they reached the up river turn 12 and half minutes later it became apparent to the large throng watching the big TV screen on the river edge that the Olympic gold and silver medallists would not run all of them down.
"My tactic was just to go out as fast as possible, so I'm not in the crowd," said the delighted 20-year-old Naske back at the Union Boat Club.
"John [Storey], he was faster than me and I just let him pass.
"I was feeling strong and I thought I could take on him."
All limbs were screaming against the power of the river and blustery conditions on the route north, up the Kowhai Park side of the river, which was night and day compared to the bobsled pace the rowers could put on when they turned around, just past the Aramoho rail bridge.
"Then I thought, now I can really win this race," said Naske, who was humbled to join Drysdale and fellow Olympic gold medallist Hamish Bond as only the third different winner of the now annual challenge, and the first champion from overseas.
"I can't believe that. I want to [come back], glad to do so.
"That's an impressive feat for me, one of the best of my life."
Although Naske missed the Olympics for Germany this year, time is on the U23 world champions side, and it will be a major feather in his cap internationally to have defeated Drysdale and Martin.
"After two years, I don't think I have a chance already [to surpass them]. Over the next 3-4 years, I will be."
He received a cheque for $1000, temporary possession of the Billy Webb trophy glass, which will remain in Whanganui, and a smaller blue replica of the trophy which Naske intends to gift to his rowing club back home.
"I want everyone to see it, it's so beautiful."
Also delighted to have beaten the best in the world to the line was Parry, who won silver in the NZ quadruple sculls at the Under 23 world champs.
"We definitely got confidence from that - that we got a bit of a jump on them," he said.
"Early season, we hope to get the run on these older guys."
Parry and Naske's charge had taken any controversy out of the decision, with the officials not required to pass judgement on Storey's contact with Parry at the turn.
"It was a bit of a kerfuffle there, that's how it happens. The turn is so important [because] you can change the result of the race," Parry said.
"It was lovely [going downstream], you definitely felt you'd passed the half way line.
"You're just racing as hard as you can, that was the fun part of it.
"Tim got that clear water and he was just off. He's a prodigy, that boy, I'm so proud of him."
For Drysdale, he acknowledged Martin now had the bragging rights over him, although not in the vein either of them had expected.
"He gets this one. Should have taken all those young ones out, then we could have a good race [together].
"It was hard to get that current [going] up but going down there was a bit of a head wind. Tough both ways."
The race completes Drysdale's fulltime rowing commitments for the foreseeable future, as he will have a rest and enjoy the fruits of his labours to win the second gold medal in Rio.
Sunday was also a good morning for the Aramoho Wanganui Rowing Club, as their members claimed the prizes for the Sprint Challenge and the Corporate 8's race held before the main event.
Results
Men's Elite: Tim Ole Neske, 22.21; Women's Elite: Lucy Spoors, 25.04; Men's Club/Under 20/Under 17: James Sandston, 24.25; Men's Masters 40+: Patrick Carroll, 26.09; Men's Masters 60+: Trevor Rush, 27.34; Women's Club: Jessica Norris, 27.44; Women's Under 20: Kate Laracy 27.57; Women's Under 17: Sophie Egnot-Johnson, 28.27; Women's Masters 40+: Philippa Baker-Hogan, 28.35.