Drysdale’s title No 8 nears record
Lasting the course: Lucy Spoors powers her way to the women’s premier single scull title yesterday. MAHE Drysdale won his eighth single scull title and Lucy Spoors proved toughest among the women when it mattered most in perfect conditions at the New Zealand Rowing Championships on Lake Ruataniwha, near Twizel, yesterday.
With Emma Twigg absent it meant a new name on the premier women’s single scull trophy for the first time in seven years. Spoors took her chance to win by half a boat length from Fiona Burke, with Zoe Stevenson third.
Drysdale’s win took him within one of nine-time recordholder Murray Watkinson but it didn’t come easily,
The Olympic champion led from the start but Robbie Manson upped his stroke rate to challenge with 300m left to go and then defending champion Hamish Bond came into the reckoning.
But Drysdale was able to hold them off to win by a length in a time of 7min 47.33sec.
Drysdale, who won his first single title in 2003, said it was a tough race.
Drysdale said while world and Olympic titles took precedence, it was always nice to add another New Zealand title.
‘‘I’d also like to at least match Murray.’’
Spoors was also pleased with her effort, which was a timely reminder of her ability with New Zealand trials coming up later this week.
‘‘That was so hard and the best race of the season for me,’’ Spoors said. ‘‘There wasn’t anything left.’’
North Shore Rowing Club also grabbed one of the most highly prized titles at the championships when they took home the ‘‘Boss Rooster’’ – the regatta’s oldest trophy contested by clubs rather than the Regional Performance Centre crews that dominate other premier races.
Cameron Webster, Michael Brake, Finn Howard, Bobby Kells and cox Henry Earl won the premier coxed four by beating Wairau.
North Shore last held the title 32 years ago and proudly painted the rooster in their club colours of navy blue immediately after their medal presentation.
The win was their first premier title so the four rowers and the cox were also presented with their red coats.
Kells said they were delighted with the win.
‘‘It’s bloody excellent, the boys really wanted to do it for the club. It is pretty special all right.’’