Waka racing prevails again

For the second month in a row waka racing was to the fore at the August edition of the Wanganui Rowing Winter Series on Sunday morning.

After a smaller turnout for the July race due to it clashing with school holidays, entries returned to previously strong levels with 26 craft and crews taking part.

"There were good water conditions for the race the rain didn't really bother us aside from making the wait at the start a bit cold and miserable," said spokeswoman Jacs Rush of the hosting Union Boat Club.

"We had a good contingent up from Wellington and by all accounts they had a blast and will definitely be back."

The 8km race finished near the Aramoho Wanganui Rowing Club and it was the Waka 6 Man Senior Masters team who won the day as their 41min 37s minute effort was 91.67 per cent of their prognostic time (the average international time for their specific craft and class).

Gill Potaka-Osborne, Alan Caird, Mita Davis, Ralph Visser, Harrison Plumridge, and Airiini Power were in the waka.

"A couple of these members are just new to the sport they were expecting to be behind the junior [waka] team but beat them by approximately one and a half minutes," said Rush.

Second place with 87.32 per cent prognostic went to the Wellington College team of Jack Perkins, Robert Cookson, Marcus Gamboni, Campbell Caird, and cox Harry Russon in the Boys Under 18 Lightweight Coxed Quad class.

AWRC's Hugh Pawson (86.07 per cent) was third as a Boys Under 17 Single competitor.

Racing next month will be held on September 8, with AWRC as the host club.