Rowing: Blenheim boys reign

A former Olympian and an Irishman who has just got New Zealand citizenship upstaged a couple of world champions at the New Zealand rowing championships on Lake Karapiro near Cambridge yesterday.

Rob Hellstrom, who was in the New Zealand coxless four at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and Wairau (Blenheim) clubmate Sean O'Neill, who only took up rowing after coming to New Zealand as a schoolboy to play rugby, caused a major upset by regaining the coveted premier men's coxless pairs title they last held three years ago.

Hellstrom and O'Neill, representing the Blenheim-based Central Regional Performance Centre, seized control of the final from the start from the more favoured pair of world champion George Bridgewater and his Christchurch-based South RPC crewmate Matthew Trott.

It was an advantage they never let go, despite a strong challenge from the South RPC No 2 crew of Carl Meyer and Hamish Bond, who came through to take the silver medal just 1.5s behind, with Bridgewater and Trott another 1.81s back in third.

Bridgewater's world champion pairs partner, Nathan Twaddle of Auckland, was shut out of the medals when he and Steve Cottle finished another half a boat-length back in fourth spot.

It was Hellstrom's fifth time winning the pair and his second time winning it with O'Neill, who is now eligible for New Zealand selection.

Hellstrom first won the title rowing with Andy Gibbard for Horowhenua back in 1998 and in 2001 during a stint with the Waikato Rowing Club before heading south to Wairau.

However, the regatta's star was undoubtedly world champion single sculler Mahe Drysdale, of the West End club, who achieved his goal of five premier men's titles. His Auckland RPC crew climaxed the second day of finals with victory in the premier men's eight, with a crew made up of West End and Auckland oarsmen.

It was the first time an Auckland-based crew had won the prestigious event since West End in 1972. The star-studded Auckland eight, which included internationals Drysdale, Twaddle, Don Leach and Steve Cottle, clocked 5m 57.29s to hold off a tenacious young Waikato crew by 2.35s.

South RPC, which included other New Zealand representatives Bridgewater, Eric Murray and Carl Meyer, who had helped Canaviron win the title last year, were over 3s further back in third.

Drysdale won the male rower of the year for his world championship and five national titles, while West End's world champion women's pair of Nicky Coles and Juliette Haigh shared the female rower of the year honours, having helped Auckland RPC to win the pair and four-oar titles.

But it was Central who scored a surprise victory over Auckland and Waikato in the women's eight, while world champions Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell ensured Waikato swept the women's sculling titles in the singles, double and quads.

New Zealand head coach Richard Tonks and world champion men's pair coach John Robinson shared coach of the year honours, while Central won the new trophy for competition between the regional performance centres in the premier and under-21 events.

Aramoho-Wanganui took out the Centennial Oar for overall club points and Invercargill the Centennial Scull for overall club sculling points.

- NZPA