Lightweights shine – Waikato Eight looks ominous

The build up towards the weekend finals continued today at the BankLink New Zealand Rowing Championships at Lake Karapiro - with impressive performances by the country's top lightweights and an ominous show of power from Waikato RPC's Premier Men's Eight.

World Under-23 Lightweight champion Storm Uru made the final of the Premier Lightweight Sculls with an accomplished row in his semi-final. His main rival in what promises to be a fierce final will be Peter taylor - who has been showing a remarkable turn of speed in the recent heavyweight Waddell vs. Drysdale races - where he has qualified for finals ahead of other current world champion scullers.

Waikato look ominous in the Men's Premier Eights. Their crew - title holders - includes world champions Eric Murray and James Dallinger as well as squad rowers Dane Boswell, Selwyn Cleland, Graham Hill, Simon Watson and youngsters Josh Payne and David Eade. They looked smooth and slippery as they moved out to a comfortable one length victory over an Auckland RPC crew containing NZ squaddies Nathan Twaddle, Steve Cottle and busy lightweight Peter Taylor.

It was do or die for many crews in the semis for the Novice, Club and Senior events. One to miss out included the West End Men's Coxed Four, who narrowly failed to make the final of Club Coxed Fours in a close finish in their semi. They were pipped near the line after catching a crab by Waikato, Hamilton and Clifton. With an average age of 43, the 'old men' of Clifton rowed exceptionally well in a tight race to defeat many younger rivals and book their place in the final of one of the more competitive events.