Editorial: Let's salute gutsy effort of rowers

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

Four years in the waiting, the Rugby World Cup is under way and getting up a head of steam as hosts England falter - perhaps fatally - against Wales.

The minnows show their might and the All Blacks stay on course in their bid to retain the Webb Ellis trophy.

The nation is engrossed and all other sporting endeavour seems like mere crumbs at the table of the oval ball banquet.

Before the "national sport" totally consumes everything, a quick nod to Wanganui's "national sport" which was gracing the back pages only a couple of weeks ago.

In terms of elite performers and medal tallies, rowing has to be our premier activity. And earlier this month three local athletes collected world championship medals and helped pilot their boats towards next year's Olympic Games.

It takes talent and massive effort and determination to reach that standard. While Kerri Gowler, Chris Harris and Rebecca Scown are all now supported by a remarkably successful national structure, it was with our local clubs and on the Whanganui River that their talent was first recognised.

It should be noted this trio have not booked their own tickets to Rio. They qualify the boat on behalf of New Zealand - now they have to fight to keep their seat in that boat.

But they would not have that opportunity were it not for the hard work that keeps our local clubs going and it is fitting that Gowler and Harris still affiliate to the Aramoho-Wanganui club and Scown to Union.

Those clubs face the usual struggles that local sporting organisations have to stay afloat - and the June floods badly impacted on both riverside operations as their boatsheds were swamped.

It is testament to their resilience that they were soon back in action and hopefully there will be more champions to come from the banks of the Whanganui.