Oamaru’s Taylor takes top honour at Otago awards

OAMARU Rowing Club’s Mark Taylor was crowned Otago’s rower of the year on Saturday.

The NZ junior men’s coxless quadruple sculls crew member edged three others to take the top prize at Rowing Otago’s awards night in Alexandra.

His competition came in fellow national junior representative Bradley Leydon and national university representatives Scott Bezett and Juliette AlmLequeux.

Meanwhile, Dunstan Arm’s Simon Smith had an impressive night. He took both the club and masters rower of the year awards, while also winning coach of the year for his success in building a strong Dunstan programme.

That was reflected in several other successes for the club.

Its girls novice coxed quad sculls crew of Sophie Smith, Daendie de Beer, Isabella Herbert, Malia Banks and Shaye Scott won novice crew of the year, while Grace Furrie won coxswain of the year.

John McGlashan College’s Jack McLaughlan won male school rower of the year, after taking both the single and double sculls gold medals at Maadi Cup.

Meanwhile, Bayfield High School’s Eva Hofmans and Taieri College’s Haylee Budd could not be split and were named joint winners of the female school rower of the year award.

North End’s Scott and Todd Bezett took crew of the year, while the club won a second prize in Lauren Farnden taking administrator of the year.