Six of the best from Drysdale as Wairoa take a deserved Boss Rooster
Sunday 21 February 2010, 9:09AM
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Mahe Drysdale took a field of world champions apart today as he strode majestically away to win his sixth national sculling title at the 2010 BankLink New Zealand Rowing Championships at Lake Karapiro.
Drysdale started quickly in a field that included world champions Peter Taylor, Marcel Hacker, Joseph Sullivan and Nathan Cohen - once again the dark horse in the field. Cohen and Taylor followed the four times world champion and it looked to be all about those three, until Drysdale pulled away in the third 500 metres and Marcel Hacker pulled himself back into contention. Hacker got past Taylor and was closing on Cohen - a good performance given his lack of time on the water - but it was a Kiwi 1-2 with Drysdale champion again.
Emma Twigg dominated the women's single sculls leading from the start. A surprise in second was Odette Sceats - who had also caused a stir making the final of the Billy Webb Challenge last year. Fi Paterson confirmed her good form for Central RPC with third - backing up wins in the eight and the quadruple scull. Central RPC's women performed notably during the week - with wins in the championship double scull, second in the pairs, and wins in the quad and eight.
One of the best races of the day came in the Boss Rooster - one of New Zealand, and indeed rowing's, oldest trophies. Waikato Rowing Club took an early lead, but could not shake off the advances of West End (boating big gun Drysdale in the two seat). West End's row wasn't as good as their heat, and Waikato looked to have sealed it with 500 to go. Cue Dane Boswell in the stroke seat with a huge push for the line that saw the crew catch and pass Waikato in the dying moments. West End came in a close third.
The traditional ceremony for painting the Rooster was delayed due to a protest about an amended crew order and the paperwork that comes with it. Common sense prevailed in the end and the crew - Dane Boswell, Ian Seymour, Warwick Wright and Shaun O'Neil and got stuck into the paint job after the final dais presentation.
Waikato RPC won the Men's Premier Eights - and will have been very grateful for that after two frustrating days of finals. Central RPC dominated the women's eights with a crew that contained several new, young blades that are great prospects for the future.
Blenheim had a great row in a packed field to win a superb novice Fours race, whilst a great looking Wellington men's eight took the Club Eights and proved once again that with commitment and enthusiasm, some great crews can come out of the New Zealand club system.
Other notable results included three wins for Cambridge in the men's and women's senior pair and in the women's club quads.