Marlborough rowing held on choppy water

Press, 13 December 1982, Page 28

Marlborough rowing held on choppy water

Nine South Island clubs, represented by 240 crews, contested the Marlborough rowing championships on a rain-swept, choppy Picton Harbour on Saturday. Wairau's strength in the lower grades enabled the club to win the regatta with 66 points. Avon finished with 54, Canterbury 48 and Nelson 42. Avon dominated the premier coxed fours.- It entered three crews and they moved to the front early in the race and took the first three placings. The in-form Union rower. Dale Maher, distinguished himself in the premier singles event. He scored his first win in the top event at a classification regatta and qualified for the premier class next season. The Canterbury club's No. 1 senior coxless pair. Chris Duncan and Malcolm Fraser, gave a controlled and powerful display of small boat rowing to head off the club's No. 2 combination. Craig Hobbs and George Robinson, by 2 b 2 lengths. Union was third. One of the most popular wins was provided by the Nelson club's novice men's fours. Peter Lucas. John Price. Danny Guarel, and Norman Strawbridge with

the coxswain. Shane Whaklin. had a convincing win against 12 other crews in the event, which is contested by firstyear oarsmen. Strawbridge travels 24km each night to attend training and was especially pleased with his first status regatta win. There was a minor upset in the premier coxless pair race when the Wairau combination of Mark Stalland and Mark James convincingly beat the world championship gold medallists. George Keys and Les O'Connell (Avon)', by two lengths. However, the Avon coach. Mr Dave Lindstrom, was not unduly worried and in the premier coxed fours, the two Avon crews powered clear after 1000 m and only Blenheim stayed with them. The No. 1 Avon crew had just a canvas to spare over its second crew at the finish with Blenheim a surprise third. The two Wairau crews were a distant fourth and fifth. In the other prestige event, Avon combined its two fours and with James Elliott, as stroke, the Avon eight led from start to finish to beat Wairau by almost four lengths, with Canterbury giving a fine performance to

take third, a length behind Wairau. In the women's events, the Canterbury club again dominated the premier class, but did not have it all its own way with the increased competition in the lower grades. Nelson made strong inroads and the club has more depth in its men and women ranks than for many years. Results; Premier coxed pair. Avon No. 1. 1; Avon No. 2. 2: Avon No. 3. 3. Under 17 four.-Nelson 1. Picton 2. Nelson No. 2. 3. Intermediate single.- Wairau No. 1. 1; Nelson 2; Avon No. 1. 3. Premier women's eoxless pair.-Canterbury No. 2.1; Canterbury No. 1. 2; Picton 3. Women's novice four.-Nelson 1. . . I Premier single.—Union (D. Maher). 1; Wairau 2. Senior coxless pair. -Canterbury No. 1,1; Canterbury No. 2. 2: Union 3. Novice four.-Nelson No. 1. 1; Wairau 2. Avon 3. Junior single.- Blenheim 1. Picton 2. Avon 3. Premier coxless pair.—Wairau No. 1. 1; Avon No. 1. 2: Avon No. 2. 3. Women's premier four.-Can-terbury No. 1. 1; Canterbury No. 2.2: Nelson No. 1. 3.

Intermediate coxed pair. - Picton 1. Avon No. 1. 2; Wairau 3. Senior single. - Union 1. Wairau 2. Blenheim 3. Open lightweight four. Canterbury No. 2. 1-: Canterbury No 1. 2; Nelson No. 2. 3. Junior coxed pair—Avon No. 1. 1: Union 2. Nelson 3. Women's premier double. ■Canterbury No. 2.1:- Wairau 2. Picton 3. ;. Premier four.-Avon No. 1. 1. Avon No. 2.2: Blenheim 3. Interpiediate eight. Wairau 1. Avon No. 1. 2: Avon No. 2. 3. Novice coxed pair.-Nelson 1. Wairau 2. Avon 3. Womens intermediate four. Nelson 1. Picton 2. Kawaliri 3. Junior eight. Wairau 1. Picton 2.. Open double scull.-Wairau No. 1. 1: Wairau No. 2.2; Avon 3 Senior four.-Wairau 1. Blenheim 2. Novice eight.-Wairau 1. Nelson 2; Avon 3. Junior double.-Blenheim No 1. 1: Blenheim No. 2.2. ' Intermediate four.-Wairau 1. Avon 2. Women's open eight.-Canter-bury No. 1. 1: Nelson 2. Canterbury No. 2. 3. Intermediate double. - Wairau 1. Picton 2. Junior four. Avon No. I. 1: Nelson 2. Avon No. 2. 3. Open eight - Avon No. I. I; Wairau No. 1. 2: Canterbury 3.