Cohen and Taylor add to star studded final of the men's single scull

Reigning national sculling champion Nathan Cohen kept a feisty Peter Taylor at bay to take the single scull repecharge and move with the former lightweight world champion to a hot looking final on Saturday morning which already boasts five time world champion Mahe Drysdale and multiple pairs champ Eric Murray.

Taylor looked very smooth and deceptively fast as he pushed Cohen to a sub seven minute time on the course at Lake Karapiro - a very fast time in the conditions. the two time world double scull champion though, always looked the more powerful and sprinted off as he approached the line, a customary Cohen trait these days and one which any rivals in any event find hard to deal with.

German Karsten Brodowski and former Under 23 world champion and member of the New Zealand men's quad scull John Storey complete the final.

The final of the eights on Saturday should be a nail biter. In the heats today Waikato RPC carved out a half length lead over Southern RPC and Central RPC. With all boats brimming with world champions and national squad members, and prediction of a winner is too hard to call. It could well boil down to the coxes making the best calls at the best times. Central RPC did look comfortable though on their way to third place, and could conceivably have slightly more left in their armoury than their Waikato and Southern rivals. Southern RPC dominated the lane race in the women’s event and could do the same on Saturday in the main final.

There was also plenty of action today in the lower categories with some very close racing in the club single sculls, the club double sculls and fours, in all of the Under 21 events and in the novice fours.

Thursday brings semi finals as the two days of finals - Friday and Saturday, draw near. All of the athletes and organisers, however, are hoping for some brighter weather.