The 2022/23 National Rowing Championship regatta was rocked by the incredible success of our young Twizel rowers. The green and black row suits were represented by a strong squad of thirteen teenagers, for most, this was their first experience competing at a national level. The competition is spread over five days and the intensity of the racing built up to a fever pitch as the crews rowed themselves into the A Finals.

Kiara Thyne and Sadie Mason were first to take the water on Friday’s Final Day and blew us all away with a convincing win in the Women’s Novice Double Sculls.  They made it look easy, pulling away in the final 750m to win by a clear boat length! Only an hour and a half later they were back on the podium collecting a silver medal in the Women’s Intermediate Double Sculls.

The Men’s Novice Quad made up of Orlando Narruhn, Corbin Lloyd, Jack McLellan, Ralph Henderson, and coxswain Stevie Fincham-Putter rowed a strong race in their A Final, crossing the line with nothing left to give, placing second.

Saturday’s Finals Day racing began with the Women’s Novice Quad of Kiara Thyne, Sadie Mason, Hazel Henderson, Lucia Yates, and coxswain Poppy Staniford gunning for a medal, even though they were considered underdogs! They rowed the race of their lives with their plan executed precisely, thanks to excellent coxing from Poppy, narrowly missing out on a medal by 0.9sec.

Kobe Narruhn and Ralph Henderson went into the Men's Novice Double Sculls hoping to continue the success that had seen them unbeaten all season long. Kobe and Ralph gave it everything they had but with a wobbly start had difficulty pulling the leaders back in. Their workload was evident in every stroke down the course and with a powerful finish crossed the line in a very respectable third place.

With 52 clubs and 842 competitors, Twizel Rowing Club has made it clear that they are seriously competitive. People have, at last, been made to sit up and take notice of the green and black!

Twizel ended the regatta with a gold, two silvers, a bronze and one agonisingly close fourth! They are all AMAZING young athletes and everyone at Twizel Area School and from the wider Twizel community are so, so proud of you! Ka pai.

Gold for Twizel! - Women’s Novice Double Sculls

Oh So Close! - Women’s Novice Coxed Quad

NZ National Championship 2023 Results

Full Twizel results from NZ Rowing Champs can be found here: Twizel Rowing Club | NZ Champs