Mount Aspiring College rower Pipi Horan and cox Patrick Hartley each won top awards at the 2020 Otago Rower of the Year awards which were completed online this week.  

Both members of the Wanaka Rowing Club, Pipi (15) won the female school rower category and Patrick eclipsed three other contenders from Alexandra and Dunedin to take the top coxswain category.

In recognition of the Wanaka Rowing Club’s most successful season on record, nine club members were shortlisted for the awards in various categories.

Pipi was also selected for top club rower of the year and the Girls’ Under 16/17 coxed quad was also shortlisted for best crew of the year.  

Pipi Horan

The coxed quad comprising Pipi, Lyla Chamberlain, Emily Findlay, Neve Faed, Samara Goodall and cox Patrick Hartley were unbeaten this season, winning golds at all the South Island regattas including the Canterbury Champs, the South Island championships and the South Island Secondary School championships. 

The crew missed out on the top award, however, which went to the very successful Dunstan Arm Rowing Club’s women's eight who were also unbeaten for the season and won gold at the New Zealand National Champs.

Club coaches Matt Rickard and David Ayres also were shortlisted for coach of the year in recognition of the impressive season for the club.

Club rowers won eight gold medals, three silver and four bronze medals in the A Finals at the largest South Island regattas this season.

Patrick Hartley

The Girls’ U16/17 quad and the U15 doubles, with Pipi Horan and Ruby Boyd, were both unbeaten throughout the season. Following the success of the Girls’ U16 doubles at the last regatta, Pipi Horan and Emily Findlay were invited to join the trials for the U18 North vs South team.

Brilliant though the season was for the Wanaka Rowing Club, coaches Dave and Matt missed winning the Coach of the Year which was awarded to Otago Boys High School coach Kirsty Dunhill.  

Also missing out on an award was club captain A J Humphreys who was shortlisted for administrator/official of the year.

PHOTOS: Supplied