The annual rowing clash between Otago and Canterbury will feature three young Wanaka rowers this year.

After trials were held last weekend, the Otago Rowing Association announced this week those who had been selected to compete at the 2020 Interprovincial Teams Competition at Twizel in October.

Wanaka Rowing Club (WRC) members Lyla Chamberlain, Emily Findlay and Pipi Horan were picked for the women’s under 20 team. The Mt Aspiring College students will compete together in a quad (with an additional rower from Columba College); but Pipi and Emily will also combine in a double sculls and Pipi will compete in the single sculls as well.

WRC coach David Ayers said the girls had all been training hard through the winter and they had proven their competitive edge and technical skills by winning gold at regattas last season.

“They’re fit and strong... and they’ve been going pretty fast. They definitely have a good chance of a podium finish,” he said.

Pipi Horan with Wanaka Rowing Club coach David Ayers.

The WRC’s U16 girl’s quad of Lyla Chamberlain, Emily Findlay, Pipi Horan and Neve 

Faed dominated the Canterbury Rowing Championships at Lake Ruataniwha in January this year.

There have been no rowing regattas since lockdown in March but training has continued throughout the winter, David said.

He said the club has been lucky this winter as “the lake has been pretty good and calm” and they had been regularly training on water twice a week.

“The girls have been rowing really well; they’re enjoying it, they get on well with each other and they’re well motivated,” he said.

Wanaka’s Watersports Facility on Lake Wānaka’s foreshore, which will be officially opened this Sunday (August 23) in a ceremony starting at 11:00am, was also proving to be a real asset, David said.  

“Having the sports facilities right on the water has been fantastic. It takes a lot of the hassle out of our previous situation,” he said, referring to the club’s former boat storage and training facility on the showgrounds.

At this stage, the Interprovincial Teams regatta will be held at Lake Ruataniwha on October 3-4. David said the competition would be dependent on Otago and Canterbury being back to alert level one, however. He doubted it could be held under alert level two as there would be too many competitors and supporters. 

PHOTOS: Supplied