Small margin but big regatta result

A lot of people say in sport it is the little things that can be the difference between winning and losing, and for Whangarei rowers Adam McKernan and Sam Beazley this is certainly the case.

To be more specific, "little" for these 18-year-old rowers was .36 of a second as they hung on to come out on top at the 2012 Christmas Regatta - the largest regatta in New Zealand history with 2000 athletes competing.

McKernan and Beazley fought hard with a visiting team from Vanuatu last weekend, hanging on to upset the visitors who are en route to the Youth Olympics.

Whangarei Rowing Club coach Nigel Baddeley said the boys' result was a sign of things to come for the talent duo.

"The boys have worked exceptionally hard and, as a coach, if you've got people who work hard I guess the results speak for themselves."

Also in the same race as McKernan and Beazley were Year 10 students Chad Eichler and Max Causley who came third, buoying the crowd as they carved their way through teams older and bigger than themselves. Again in the same race was Josh Ackers and Alistair Clark who just missed out on medals as they crossed the line in fourth place.

Baddeley said next up for McKernan and Beazley were February's nationals, where he hopes last weekend's performance is a sign of things to come.