Last month was a productive one at Whakatāne Rowing Club, with training schedules intensifying ahead of the year’s major regattas.

Following the successful hosting of the beach sprint event at Ōhope, the club transitioned back to flat-water racing, sending a squad to Lake Karapiro for the Junior Regatta.

It was the first time this season that rowers could compete in their school colours, with the Whakatāne High School squad taking the opportunity to debut their new black and gold rowsuits.

Though the first day of heats was held in fine weather, the second day of finals was challenged by persistent rain.

The senior boys’ squad performed well across the sculling and sweeping disciplines, reaching a total of eight A-finals. This resulted in a demanding schedule for several individuals who competed in up to four races in a day.

Notable results included the Boys’ U17 Coxed Eight, which secured fourth place in a highly contested final.

Also finishing fourth in their respective finals were the U17 double of Adam Albert-May and Sam Knapton, and the U16 double of Kohl van den Anker and Hayden Grant.

For the senior boys, this was their final competitive appearance at Karapiro before the North Island Secondary Schools Championships this month.

The New Zealand National Rowing Championships were also held at Lake Karapiro over four days, where Whakatāne was represented by a small group of novice rowers.

Coached by Leighton Hale, the men’s novice quad comprising Kirwan Penny, Jonty Putwain, Jason Hughes, Julian Cardinal, and coxswain Dylan Penny, placed second in their heat to secure a favourable lane for the final.

After a strong start and a solid middle portion of the race, the crew held their position as Clifton Rowing Club made a late surge.

Clifton took the lead by just 0.4 seconds at the line, leaving the Whakatāne crew with a well-earned bronze medal.

In the novice doubles, Cardinal and Hughes finished fifth in their heat before going on to win the B-final.

Meanwhile, Penny and Putwain advanced to the A-final after placing third in their heat. Having shown consistent form throughout the season, the pair met expectations by claiming another bronze medal for the club.

Former Whakatāne rowers also saw success at the regatta.

Ben Olifiers, now rowing for Waikato after starting his career with Whakatāne while at Trident High School, won gold in the Men’s Premier Coxless Quad, rowing with Finn Hamill, the son of former Whakatāne rower Rob Hamill, Karl Manson, brother of former New Zealand single sculler Robbie Manson, and Cullum Tutbury.

Olifiers also won bronze in the Premier Single behind Oscar Ruston in second and Hamill in first.

Luke Berquist, representing Tauranga after his start with Whakatāne High School, earned a bronze medal in the Men’s Senior Double with partner James Hollard.

Looking ahead, school-aged rowers are preparing for the North Island Secondary School Championships at Karapiro this weekend. This will be followed by the Maadi Regatta at Lake Ruataniwha.