All about Bond at New Zealand Champs

It was time for the third and final showdown for the summer between Mahe Drysdale and Hamish Bond in the men’s single sculls.

World and Olympic Champion in the pair, Bond and his pair partner Eric Murray have spent their summer season training in singles and both of them have raced five-time World Champion and 2012 London Olympic Champion Drysdale in two other regattas. Both times Bond won and Drysdale came in second.

Bond made it a hat-trick on the Lake Karapiro regatta course by again pushing Drysdale into second place. Murray finished in third.

The women’s single sculls was won by Emma Twigg. Twigg, the silver medallist at last year’s World Rowing Championships, finished ahead of 2013 silver medallist in the women’s double Zoe Stevenson with Genevieve Armstrong in third.

Bond also teamed up with lightweight four World silver medallist James Lassche in the men’s pair and together they not only won but set a time of 6:12.42, less than four seconds outside of the World Best Time. The pair enjoyed mild tail wind conditions and a bit of a current to set this time. The women’s pair was won by Olympian Louise Trappitt and Rebecca Scown. Scown finished third in this event at last year’s World Rowing Championships and she is ranked in the World Rowing Top 10 list for 2013. Scown’s 2013 pair partner, Kayla Pratt finished second with Kelsey Bevan.

The lightweight men’s single sculls title went to Peter Taylor for the fourth consecutive time. Taylor was part of last year’s silver medal lightweight four. In second was Bond’s younger brother Alistair. Alistair Bond, 23, last raced internationally in 2012 at the World Rowing Championships.

The men’s double sculls was won by brothers Robbie and Karl Manson. Older brother Robbie won two World Rowing Cup titles last year when he raced with Michael Arms. Arms, who has come back after rehabilitation for a back injury, finished second with partner Drysdale. This was one of three silver medals that Drysdale picked up at the regatta.  

The top New Zealand rowers will now prepare for national team trials with Drysdale likely to be the single sculler, while Bond and Murray will return to training in the pair in anticipation of the upcoming international season.

Trials will take place through the first week of March at which point the 2014 national team will be decided. For a full list of triallists, click here.