Rotorua wins first regatta of the season…

For the first time, in mid July,  Rotorua Rowing Club took a rowing team to Hawke’s Bay Rowing Club, for Series 1 of the John Howard Regatta Winter Series raced on the Clive River.

Newly appointed Bay of Plenty Rowing Association Chairman (and Coach) James Boyce went with the crews.“ They had a quick briefing to explain the friendly nature in which the racing would be conducted “ said Boyce “ The other important message was the plan for how everyone was going to avoid the very obvious obstruction (the State Highway 2 Bridge) 200m from the finish line.”

The weather deteriorated overnight and light rain persisted through Sunday morning. The first few races got the best water then the wind changed and came straight down the course to give a strong tail wind with an incoming tide.“Fast racing was the result,” said Boyce “although a few boats managed to run out of water, grounding on the mud banks behind the start.”

On the 8^th and 9^th  of Sept, Rotorua Rowing Club hosted the Hawke’s Bay Rowing Club and Bay of Plenty Clubs in the return John Howard regatta series 2 at the Blue Lake . Bay of Plenty Coast, Tauranga, Whakatane, Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay came to Rotorua, braved the gusty Nor’westers ,and with great gusto, raced down the 1500m, attempting to stay in their unmarked lanes.

Rotorua won the Regatta Series with the most points, with Tauranga coming second and Hawke’s Bay third. The open grades raced in singles, fours, quads, doubles and eights and the Novices gained racing training in the slightly bigger boats-the  fours, quads and eights.

Rotorua’s Novice Coxed Eight crew (see photo) showed true grit, winning their event. Each of their two rivals boats had a crew member lose their seat on the way down.    

POINTS

Tauranga Rowing Club                       55

Rotorua Rowing Club                         58

Hawke’s Bay Rowing Club                  21

Bay of Plenty Coast Rowing Club     17

Gisborne Rowing Club                       6

Whakatane Rowing Club                    1