Otago regains Ashes
Racing concluded at the 2019 Aon New Zealand University Rowing Championships today at Lake Karapiro. 360 rowers from 8 universities competed in 32 events under blue skies with a very light breeze all day.
The women’s championship single was an all Waikato affair with Stella Clayton-Greene, Katie Lush and Anna Gallaher taking gold, silver and bronze respectively.
Canterbury’s Nathan Luff stormed home in the Men’s Championship single ahead of Otago’s Bradley Leydon. This was Leydons second podium finish of the day, also winning silver in the Men’s Champiosnhip 2x.
Despite an early lead, Auckland University’s women’s varsity 8+ was passed by a fast finishing Otago who took gold.
Men’s championship quad was another close race between Otago, Waikato and Canterbury. Otago took the gold, followed 1.42 seconds by Canterbury who just beat Waikato for the silver by .7 seconds.
Final Points
| Otago | 138 |
| Waikato | 102 |
| Auckland | 38.5 |
| Canterbury | 28.625 |
| AUT | 24 |
| Victoria | 9.875 |
Event details
- Entries closed at 9am Tuesday 12 March with 360 athletes from 8 universities
- Racing takes place over two days, Friday and Saturday
- Entries received spread across 36 events
- Full event schedule, entries and results will be available on rowit.nz
University Rowing
Nine university campuses within New Zealand offer rowing programmes, and this weekend’s regatta is the most fiercely contested event on the university rowing calendar. Held each year close to the Easter holiday period, the regatta involves both heavy on-water competition and a social experience off-water throughout two day of competition.
This regatta is open to all university rowers studying (part- or full-time) at the time of the regatta. Events include novice, tournament, tertiary and championship. All racing excluding championship eights will be held over a 2km course - championship eights are contested over a 3.2km course.
Throughout the whole year there are many opportunities for rowers to represent New Zealand universities, including the trans-Tasman test series held against Australia each July. There is also a tertiary regatta in each island in the second half of the year. University rowing also offers an opportunity to continue on the high performance pathway and represent New Zealand on the world stage at the World University Championships or the Universiade. Each university's programme begins at the start of semester one.
If you wish to remain involved with rowing at your university, please make contact with your university's rowing club.