Smith leads way as Otago masters claim 54 medals
OTAGO rowers have cleaned up at the national masters championships.
With representatives from the Cromwell, Dunstan Arms, North End, Port Chalmers United, Wanaka and Wakatipu clubs, the region secured 54 medals at the regatta, held at Lake Ruataniwha last weekend.
Of those, 35 were gold, 14 silver and the remainder bronze.
Dunstan Arms brought home the biggest haul, with 21 medals.
Simon Smith was a standout from the club, winning 11 medals, and was a key part of several successful teams.
He also showed his individual prowess by winning the men’s masters A and B grade single sculls gold medals.
Greg McLaughlin was another standout, rowing alongside Smith in the majority of his medal performances.
Others also among the medals for the club were Quentin Anna, John Letts, Bert Kemp and Wayne Gloag.
Port Chalmers United was not far behind with 20 medals.
Alison Howlett, Robyn Cameron, Imogen Coxhead, Tanja Prenol and Jan Brosnahan all had plenty of success, for winning several medals each.
For the Cromwell club, Natalie Wilson and Maude O’Connell were both in super form, claiming six and four medals respectively.
North End got among the action with four medals, while Shane Gibson ensured Wanaka did not go home emptyhanded, claiming a single sculls silver.