Rowing: Drysdale wards off Cohen in defence of Webb title

New Zealand sculler Mahe Drysdale fended off an early challenge from compatriot Nathan Cohen to take out the second Billy Webb Challenge 5000m race on the Whanganui River yesterday.

Cohen, through to the final after winning Friday's wild card race, finished comfortably ahead of third-placed Belgian Tim Maeyens, who trailed home a distant third.

It was a good day for the top New Zealand scullers, with Emma Twigg winning the women's race after a battle with Australian Sally Kehoe and women's wild card winner Odette Sceats.

Cohen was carrying plenty of long-distance pace at this stage of the season after his world tour of the biggest sculling races, and blasted off to an early one-length lead.

In his wake, Drysdale slugged it out with Maeyens as Cohen stretched the lead out to two lengths before opting to go for the middle of the course after about three minutes.

The stern of his boat and the bow of the world champion's boat almost touched, sparking Drysdale into action as he powered through to the front.

Drysdale, who finished second to double Olympic gold medallist Olaf Tufte in last year's race, maintained momentum to enter the second half of the race with a tidy lead.

Cohen rated consistently higher throughout the 5000m but could not get back on terms. He did, however, see off Maeyens, who looked outclassed by the Kiwis throughout the race.

Drysdale won some 15 seconds ahead of Cohen, who in turn was a good seven lengths ahead of Maeyens.

The challenge is held on the same stretch of water on which Webb, New Zealand's first single scull world champion, defended his world title against Australian Richard Tressider 101 years ago.

- NZPA