Rowing: Host crews sense pressure

Hawke's Bay rowers Michael Van Der Peet (left), Morgan Davies, Brooke Davies, Liam Vogelaar, Kirsten, Adam and Stephen Van Der Peet know about the importance of this weekend's New Year's Regatta at Clive. Photo / Paul Taylor

If Stephen Van Der Peet was feeling the pressure in the countdown to the Hawke's Bay Rowing Club's New Year's Regatta he was doing a top job of concealing it yesterday.

One of four members of his family who will be in action at the January 2 and 3 event on the Clive River, Van Der Peet, 19, and his 21-year-old brother Michael, who boasts six years of experience with the club, one more than Stephen, are hoping to repeat this year's wins in the open pair and eight events and club double.

"We've got the local knowledge. We know the river and how crews can come to grief at the bridge piles. At the same time we've still got to be on our toes," Van Der Peet said.

As a pair the brothers like to provide a winning example for their younger siblings, 15-year-old Adam and 18-year-old Kirsten. This weekend's 1500 metre races will be the final opportunity for Bay rowers to cement berths for the February nationals.

Van Der Peet is aiming to represent the Bay in the senior eight, double and quad events at the Lake Karapiro-hosted nationals as well as the club four.

"Although I will be returning to Otago University I will still represent the Bay at the North Islands and nationals," Van Der Peet said.

He represented Otago University at a regatta in China earlier this year where a fourth placing with an eight was his best result.

"It was a good experience which will prove beneficial in our upcoming events," Van Der Peet said.

"Most of us Bay rowers have been putting in up to 20 hours a week on the water in recent weeks. Those big festive-season eats stopped yesterday ... we know how important this weekend is," he added.

While sibling rivalry inspires the Van Der Peets it is also a similar situation with 18-year-old Brooke Davies and her 16-year-old brother Morgan. It's no secret the Hawke's Bay club has been among the country's best when there has been strong family influences throughout the crews.

There were glory days when Jamie Twigg competed at the same time as his multiple world champion sister Emma Twigg who still represents the club. The Kitchin brothers, Liam, Matt and Luke, have contributed to some memorable highlights and the club's most famous exports Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell helped secure some silverware for the club before going on to become multiple Olympic and world champions.

The Van Der Peets and the Davies will be among 75 rowers from the host club in action at the regatta. Visitors from Whanganui, Taupo, Rotorua, Wellington, Waikato, Whakatane, Horowhenua and Rowing New Zealand's women's eight crew which is coached by former Hawke's Bay club member Dave Thompson will swell the numbers to more than 200.

With so many rowers it will be a surprise if the host club doesn't retain the Hawke's Bay Cup for the most points with a winning margin of more than 40 points for the third consecutive year.

A new novice eight women's boat will take to the water for the first time. It has been named after club stalwart Cedric Bayly.

Various shootouts will again provide an exciting finale to the event.

Racing will begin at 10am both days.