Uncertainty over sporting events in South

SPORTING events in the South are very much in a holding pattern as the Covid19 levels start to bite.

The national rowing championships were due to begin at Lake Ruataniwha this morning but have been delayed until Thursday at the earliest and the regatta cut from five days to three.

Challenge Wanaka is also up in the air with more than 800 competitors set to line up in the event on Saturday.

The Otago secondary schools triathlon championships, which have attracted 250 competitors, are also scheduled for Wanaka on Thursday.

The junior primary school triathlon event on Friday has an entry field of more than 900 participants.

The South Island strokeplay championships are set to be played at the St Clair Golf Club this weekend, starting on Friday, but it is also unclear whether they will go ahead.

One event not going ahead is the Halberg Awards in Auckland on Thursday. They were postponed yesterday to be held at a yettobe announced date.

The rowing nationals have attracted about 1000 athletes, many having travelled from the North Island.

It is believed there are plans though to get the crews on the lake today and tomorrow for training.

Crews will move into pods and then be allocated from 60 to 90 minutes to train on the lake over the next couple of days. Rowers will be spread out over the lake.

Dunstan Arm Rowing Club coach Simon Smith said the team of about 25 rowers had a lazy day yesterday as the rowing centre at Lake Ruataniwha was closed and no access was available for boats.

He said rowers were just waiting to see what happened. There was not much to do but wait.

If the regatta was cut to three days, repechages would most probably be cut.

Last year, when the country went through various stages of restrictions, Rowing New Zealand came up with a proposal on how to hold a regatta under Level 2.

Under the rules, rowers would have to stay in their tents when not competing, not get lakeside and there would be only strict admittance to the boat park. No spectators would be allowed.

Otago Boys’ High School rowing coach Kirsty Dunhill said she was keen for the regatta to go ahead. Many rowers had trained five days a week for six months for the event and it would be a shame if it did not take place.

No firm details were available from Rowing NZ last night.

Challenge Wanaka officials are keen for the event on a new course around Glendhu Bay to go ahead.

Wanaka athlete Braden Currie and Taupo’s Kyle Smith are set to renew their rivalry.

St Clair Golf Club professional Patrick Moore said about a quarter of the competitors in the South Island strokeplay event were from Auckland and would be unable to come until Thursday at the earliest.

It was a national event and has ranking points for amateur players.

There would also be measures concerning the raking of bunkers and taking balls out of holes.

A decision about the tournament was expected today.