Five medals for Timaru crews
Timaru Rowing Club coach Jamie Vou is rapt with the club’s performance at the New Zealand Rowing Championships near Twizel over the past week.
The club will return with five medals after what Vou has described as a successful week on Lake Ruataniwha.
The club claimed another three medals on Saturday, having already won gold in the men’s novice quad sculls, and bronze in the senior women’s coxless quad sculls. Timaru nabbed two silver medals on Saturday with women’s coxless quad sculls and under-19 double sculls crews performing.
Molly Clayton, Briar Mallinson, Charlette Grant and Rachel Stephenson finished in 8 minutes 8.94 seconds – four seconds behind Canterbury Rowing Club. Double sculls crew Clayton and Mallinson also brought home silver. Clayton also won a bronze medal in the women’s single sculls.
Vou said the highlight of the week was the men’s novice quad winning gold on Thursday.
The crew of Charlie Clemens, Jan-Hendrick Kuepper, William
‘She’s a small person with a massive mindset.’’
Timaru coach Jamie Vou on Molly Clayton who won four medals
Talbot, Sam Wilson and Ben Wratt (cox) won the title on Lake Ruataniwha on Thursday in 6:54.28 minutes with Hawke’s Bay and Otago crews second and third respectively.
Vou said Clayton’s four medals were another highlight.
‘‘She’s a small person with a massive mindset,’’ he said.
‘‘All of those who have made an A and B final have done well. To even make a B final is no mean feat. ‘‘It’s the nationals and you’re still one of top 16 in the country and if you get through to the A finals you’re one of top eight.’’ Fourteen other Timaru Rowing Rowing Club crews made A-finals.
‘‘The club’s done a fantastic job,’’ Vou said.
Vou said the event provided good preparation for the younger crews taking part in Maadi Cup at Lake Karapiro next month.
It gives them a taste of what they’re going to be up against in the North Island when they go up to Maadi.
‘‘They’re got a regatta at Lake Hood (Ashburton) coming up next weekend and then the South Island Secondary Schools Championships back here in Twizel.
‘‘Then they’re off to the big one, the ultimate, which is Maadi Cup.’’
In other events, Robbie Manson continued his dominance over Mahe Drysdale winning the premier men’s single scull final.
The defending champion triumphed in a time of six minutes 52.03 seconds with Drysdale taking silver just under three seconds back. Bronze went to Jordan Parry in 6:59.12.
Emma Twigg’s quest to finally win an Olympic medal received a boost when she captured the women’s single scull title.