2017 Kaiapoi Long Distance Event
21 May
Right in the middle of a cold snap, Union assembled a squad of three eights and two quads to line up at the annual Kaiapoi Bridge-to-Bridge long distance regatta. After all the 1000m sprinting many of us had done at the World Masters Games regatta, the 10km distance did feel quite long, but we were certainly fit enough to give much younger crews a run for their money. Although it was cold, and occasionally quite choppy out on the Waimakariri River, conditions overall were very good and there were no collisions on the narrow, windy stretches of the Kaiapoi River either.
In the 22 boat field, the mens quad were the fourth fastest crew home in 38.01 and the fastest masters crew, the mens eight came in sixth in 39.11, our womens oct were eleventh in 41.14 and our womens coxed quad fourteenth in 42. 02. Our masters novies oct rowed a great race to record 51.46.
Both quads found themselves entangled in fishing lines on the return leg of the race, but fortunately there were no serious injuries caused by the hooks.
We are grateful to Jan Maister and Neville Youngman for filling vacant seats in the eights at short notice, and to our various coxswains for braving near freezing temperatures. I am especially proud of our (mainly) novice octi, who held it together all the way and completed the challenging course in style. A big cheers also to the Cure Boating Club, but especially to Pete Midgely for organising the event - a great way to finish a very successful season for Union.
Dorle Pauli
Club Captain
Womens Novice Oct
Womens Oct [with the President in five seat]
Mens Quad
Womens Coxed Quad
Mens Eight
Womens Novice Oct
