McBride performs above her weight
Zoe McBride has joined a rare and impressive club at the 2017 New Zealand Rowing Championships at Lake Ruataniwha, Twizel.
McBride became just the second rower to claim both the premier lightweight and premier open titles after Philippa Baker-Hogan first completed the feat in 1987-1988
The 21-year-old from Nelson Rowing Club already has two lightweight single sculls world titles to her name, but had never before won a national open title.
‘‘I was so nervous going into it. I knew it was within my ability to win it, but whether I could perform was the question.’’
McBride clocked a time of 7:55.03. Her closest rival was Olivia Loe (Southern RPC/Avon Rowing Club) who claimed silver with 7:59.03. Brooke Donoghue of Waikato RPC/Waikato Rowing Club rounded off the podium to take the bronze medal.
For an athlete with some glittering successes to her name, winning a red coat is still a career highlight for McBride. ’’It’s something I’ve wanted to win for so long - so to win it, and to win it in one of the most competitive events, is pretty special.’’
A delighted Robbie Manson also joined some famous names when he won the men’s premier single sculls.
Manson made the most of the absence of nine-time winner and defending champion Mahe Drysdale and the 2014 champion Hamish Bond to lift the Freyberg Cup, finishing five seconds ahead of rival John Storey, with Karl Manson a further eight seconds in arrears.
Manson said it was a sweet victory after being beaten four years ago in the last three or four strokes.
The regatta also signalled a changing of the guard in other boats with a number of retirements and sabbaticals since Rio.
In the lightweight women’s double, Lucy Jonas and Amy Robson earned their gold coats, for their first premier lightweight wins.
Ashburton 17-year-old Veronica Wall also proved she is one to watch winning both the senior women’s and under 20 single sculls.
Waikato took home the Boss Rooster trophy, for winning the premier coxed four. The win also gave Fergus McSwiney, Joshua Earl and Ruben Houghton their first red coats, with Richard Power and cox Caleb Shepherd also part of the victorious crew.
In the women’s premier eights, Olympian Emma Dyke stroked the Southern Regional Performance Centre to an upset win over defending champions Central RPC by half a length.
The regatta finale saw Waikato RPC lead almost all the way in the men’s eight for a comfortable win, with Southern keeping Central honest for the minor places.
Christchurch’s Avon Rowing Club took home the Centennial Oar as the top club, from Waikato and Canterbury.