NZ Masters Rowing Championships 2019

These championships with over 300 competitors from clubs from Auckland to Invercargill and Melbourne were held at Lake Ruataniwha on 14 and 15 September 2019.

The calm conditions on Saturday were some compensation for the really cold temperatures with extra layers of clothing required to help with the pre-race warm up. Racing started at 8.00am with races following at 5 minute intervals until the last race at 5.00pm.

It was a frosty start to racing on Sunday at 8.00am with oars and boats covered in ice. The sun appeared later in the day to help warm rowers and spectators.

The Canterbury Rowing Club with rowers Thomas Ryan, Jimmy Healy and Sam Bryan featured strongly in the “A” Masters category. They also combined with Avon rowers in mixed classes.  This class featured rowers over the age of 27 who had not raced competitively in open competition during the previous season and set the standard for some high class rowing.

Thomas Ryan featured in a photo finish in the A Single for second from Frederick Bruckner Dunstan Arm Rowing Club, to set the scene for some great racing.  It was only in the last few strokes that Frederick caught Thomas and Healy pushed hard for third.  Chris Brooks previously from Avon and now based in Queenstown was coerced to form a quad with Thomas Ryan, Jimmy Healy and Sam Bryan. They gave a very good account of themselves placing third in a very competitive field.

Our rowers gave a great account of themselves with top three placings in 6 events over the 2 days.