World class rowers clash at Karapiro

The reigning dual Olympic champion, the world record holder and two current world champions.

The list of entries for the men’s premier single scull event at the Karapiro Rowing Christmas Regatta points to a mouthwatering final on Sunday, as Mahe Drysdale, Robbie Manson, John Storey and Chris Harris are all named to contest the class.

Drysdale, the Olympic gold medalwinner in 2012 and 2016, wants to chase a third gold at the 2020 Olympics and Tokyo and is back training after a year’s break following his dramatic victory in Rio.

Manson represented New Zealand in the men’s single scull this year in Europe and at the world championships in the United States. He set a new world’s best time for the class of six minutes 30.74 seconds in Poland, beating the previous mark held by Drysdale, but couldn’t find the same form at the world champs after injury restricted his build-up.

Storey and Harris combined this year to win gold at both World Cup events they contested in Europe and culminated their season with gold in the world champs in Florida.

Storey made an excellent start to the 2017/18 domestic season when he won the premier title at the Karapiro Club Regatta at the start of the month in 7:14:49, with Drysdale fourth in 7:23.28.

Manson won this title last year, heading home Storey while Drysdale was absent. The field will also contain Matthew Dunham, who won silver in the lightweight men’s single scull at the world champs.

Most of Rowing New Zealand’s summer training squad will contest the three-day regatta starting at Lake Karapiro on Friday.

The premier women’s pair event will see current world champs Kerri Gowler and Grace Prendergast compete in different boats, while contenders for a new men’s pair following the retirement of Jamie Hunter may emerge.

Emerging single sculler Hannah Osborne will face tough competition in the premier women’s class from current world doubles champs Olivia Loe and Brooke Donoghue and the lightweight double silver medallists Zoe McBride and Jackie Kiddle.

A record 2263 rowers will compete.