On our river but Wanganui cannot field an open team

A reflection on where Wanganui rowing is at can be seen in the inability of the city to field an open grade team in today's inter-provincial championships on the Whanganui River.
Instead, with most of Wanganui's good open rowers away at various RPCs and on international duty, there is local emphasis on the under-20 grade, where Aaron Brider is coaching the boys squad, and Fiona Symes, Craig Smith and Ian Brider are jointly coaching the girls.
Teams representing Auckland, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Wellington and Wanganui are taking part in the Wanganui Security North Island inter-provincials.
Unfortunately, Waikato (and Canterbury in the South Island event) are not taking part.
Teams are competing for the Graeme Moran Memorial Trophy, commemorating Graeme "Punchy" Moran, a long-time stalwart of the Union Boat Club - a winner of Red Coats in the coxed four in 1958 and the eight in 1959-60-61, as well as being a member of the New Zealand eight at the Commonwealth Games in 1962.
The trophy was competed for in 1997 between Wanganui, Wellington and East Coast, but has languished since then. Regatta format:
U20: Each association can enter a U20 team consisting of eight male and eight female rowers with no weight restriction and one coxswain for each crew. The U20 crew shall not include any rower who has represented New Zealand at a world championship or Youth Olympic regatta. On the first day of the regatta, these crews will race in a quad and a straight four, and also two double sculls and two straight pairs.
Pairs: On the second day of racing, these crews will race in their eights over a 5km course from Sandy Hook to the Aramoho 2000m course finish.
Open: Each association may enter an open team consisting of four male and four female rowers, with no weight restriction.
On the first day of racing these crews will race in pairs, a double, and all members of the crew can race a single over a 2000m course.
On the second day of racing these crews will race in their fours (men) and quads (women) over a 5km course from Sandy Hook to the Aramoho 2000m course finish.
Wanganui teams:
Under-20:
A eight: Bronwyn (cox), Kate Jordan, Kerry Gowler, Bailey McIndoe, Claire Jordan, Leith Walker, Micheala Scott, Ella Cvitanovich, Jamie O'Keefe.
B eight: Laila Murphy, Shaney Wilson, Charlotte Legge, Jess Forest, Cassandra Munro, Alice Joblin-Mills, Aly Alison, Georgia.
A coxless four: Kate Jordan, Kerry Gowler, Bailey McIndoe, Claire Jordan.
B coxless four: Laila Murphy, Shaney Wilson, Charlotte Legge, Jess Forest.
A coxed four: Leith Walker, Michaela Scott, Ella Cvitanovich, Jamie O'Keefe.
B coxed four: Cassandra Munro, Alice Joblin-Mills, Aly Alison, Georgia.
A pair: Kate Jordan, Kerry Gowler.
A double: Ella Cvitanovich, Jamie O'Keefe.
U20 boys:
A eight: Ashley Buchanan (cox), Kyle Malone, Gus Pawson, Tom Nyenhuis, Rerekohu Pewhairangi, Patrick Reynolds, Adrian van Bussel, Maatryn O'Leary, Luke Watts.
Coxed four: Luke Watts, Kyle Malone, Gus Pawson, Patrick Reynolds.
Double: Kyle Malone, Gus Pawson.
Pair: Tom Nyenhuis, Rerekohu Pewharangi.
Aaron Brider is coaching the boys while Fiona Symes, Craig Smith, and Ian Brider have jointly coached the girls.
Competition starts with time-trials at 8am today, finals start at 11.30am, and go through to 2.20pm.
Tomorrow's 5km racing starts at 9am and various grades go off at 15-minute intervals.