Sporting achievements: Finest hour

The New Zealand Rowing World Championship gold medalists arrive home. Picture / Kenny Rodger

For just under an hour New Zealand ruled the flat water in a way not seen since Ian Ferguson and Paul MacDonald spearheaded the kayakers to success at Los Angeles in 1984.

This time it was the rowers' turn as Gifu, a Japanese city that specialises in paper lanterns, was illuminated by the black singlet.

First Mahe Drysdale, a novice in the single sculls discipline, powered up the course to win.

He was followed by Juliette Haigh and Nicky Coles in the women's pair. Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater continued the remarkable run of success in the men's pair and, almost inevitably, the Evers-Swindell twins, Georgina and Caroline, provided the icing for this richest of cakes.

Four crews, three of them coached by world rowing coach of the year Dick Tonks, four golds.

"I'm scared I'm going to wake up and find it hasn't happened," selector and 1972 gold medallist Athol Earl said.

No need to worry though, it happened all right.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY