Ashburton’s Haxby Hefford was in the medals at the New Zealand Universities Rowing Championships.Two young Ashburton Rowing Club members have returned from the New Zealand University Rowing Championships with a golden glow.

Haxby Hefford and Grace Wilson have both left school but have kept up their rowing while studying at Otago University, and at the weekend’s New Zealand University Rowing Championships at Lake Karapiro they showed they were both still a force to be reckoned with on the water.

Hefford won three golds, including in the men’s varsity single sculls.

He also teamed up with Corey Lewis to take gold in the double sculls, and with Lewis, Dylan Davis, Daniel Ward and cox Henry Shaw to take gold in the coxed quad.

Hefford was also part of the Otago coxed men’s eight which came fifth.

Wilson also finished the regatta with three podium finishes, taking two golds and a silver.

Wilson was part of the Otago coxed women’s eight which won gold, and took gold in the coxed quad sculls along with Hannah Coulter, Sophie Thompson, Haylee Budd and cox Lauren Gibb.

Wilson also teamed up with Budd to contest the double sculls and the duo came second.

The New Zealand University Championship regatta was raced over Friday and Saturday.

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 14 April 2019