Giesen unseat Indevin as top rowers

Giesen Wines has bragging rights among the province's wineries for the next 12 months – at least as far as rowing prowess is concerned.

Their crew of Andrew Blake, Dave Tyney, Simon Barker, Morgan Potts, Nick Winter, Nathan Muir, Rachel Murphy, Emma Dewhirst and coxswain Arturs Juferovs, edged out last year's champions Indevin by about a third of a length in a thrilling final in which the Giesen Wines eight flew out of the blocks and established a lead they never relinquished.

Several hundred people watched the day's action based at the Blenheim Rowing Club. Drama struck in the first race when the bow seat rower in the Mount Riley boat got a loose foot plate, caught a crab and ended up in the Wairau River.

Fortunately the standard of rowing improved as the day progressed with the first round of races timed to give seedings for the subsequent knockout rounds.

Indevin recorded a very slick 1min 39sec for the 500m standing start with Giesen second fastest, clocking 1.41. Wineworks and Cloudy Bay rounded out the top four.

In the quarterfinals, Indevin, Giesen and Wineworks lived up to their seedings with comfortable wins while Cloudy Bay were beaten by the fast improving Delegats crew, with just a canvas in it.

In the semifinals, Indevin knocked out Delegats. Wineworks suffered steering problems and were well beaten by the slick Giesen eight, Giesen taking that good form into the final.

Mt Riley took out the plate title for the second year running, beating Cloudy Bay.

Another highlight of the regatta was a scratch crew made up from a club combination and school rowers which scorched down the course in 1.34, as well as the appearance of New Zealand under-23 doubles sculls rep Karl Manson from the Blenheim Rowing Club teaming with Maadi Cup pairs champion Elliott Harvey in a double sculls boat which they moved down the course in a very smart 1.37.

- The Marlborough Express

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