McBride’s gold

Zoe McBride’s disappointment at not making the Rio Olympics will have been lessened somewhat by another world championship gold. The Kiwi lightweight women’s single sculler defended her world championship title in Rotterdam on Saturday night (NZ time).

Competing world champs that are staged for boats that are not Olympic classes, the Nelson athlete won gold ahead ahead of Emma Fredh of Sweden and Katherine Sauks of Canada.

McBride had to fend off a stern challenge from Fredh to win by just 0.67 seconds in a time of eight minutes 28.45 seconds. McBride won the senior lightweight women’s single scull world title in Aiguebelette, France, last year.