Plenty of promise shown by local crews

The local rowers at the Lake Dunstan Regatta produced some strong results on Saturday.

Leading the charge for Oamaru was the surprise package of the young St Kevin's group consisting of Kalas Taukamo, Adam Sew Hoy and Reuben Mihaere of St Joseph's and SKC's Charlie Wallis. First up were Taukamo and Sew Hoy who managed a good third place finish, securing a spot in Sunday's A final.

This was followed up by another finals berth with Wallis and Mihaere finishing in second place in the U15 heats behind Otago Boys.

Not to be outdone, the combined St Kevin's/Waitaki Girls' Novice Quad of Meg Knowler, Loren Cunningham, Brooke Parsons, Casey Gordon and Cushla Houlihan steamed to first place in their race.

An impressive performance from the top Waitaki Girls' combo of Tamara Gillingham, McKenzie Skene, Morgan Henderson, Rebecca Bain and cox Lily Fincham-Wells with a third place saw both schools into the A final.

The Novice Doubles heats produced more finals berths with another heat win for Knowler and Gordon followed by a third for Henderson and Cunningham.

Waitaki Girls' senior quad scull of Maysie Scott, Micaela Irvine, Natalie Grant, Katie Gillingham and cox Rebecca Bain impressed with their third place in a competitive U18 field.

Scott and Grant then stepped up a grade for a second place in the Club Double.

Heats racing concluded with Oamaru securing berths in 11 A finals and 9 B finals from the 23 crews entered.

Unfortunately for the competitors the wind arrived after one hour of finals racing which caused the regatta to be briefly abandoned.

Taukamo and Sew Hoy took it to the opposition in the Novice Double. They hit the front with 250 metres to go then hit steering problems resulting in a fourth place finish.

After a poor start Wallis and Mihaere tracked Otago Boys to the finish line for second place.

Worsening conditions for the B final of the U16 Quad saw the Novice crew of Meg Knowler, Brooke Parsons, Casey Gordon, Lilly Fincham-Wells and Cushla Houlihan slow out of the blocks but then find their rhythm, rowing through the field to win.

The U18 Girls Quad experienced even rougher water and the team lost an oar, consigning them to a sixth place finish.

The Girls Novice Eight were fortunate to row their final on the Saturday for a creditable fourth place.