Ashburton rowers Veronica Wall (front) and Grace Wilson won the Under 18 Girls’ Double Sculls event at the Canterbury Regatta at Lake Hood on the weekend. Photo Linda ClarkeAshburton rowers have again punched well above their weight at another major rowing regatta.

The Canterbury Regatta, held at Lake Hood on Saturday saw close to 700 competitors take to the water over two days of rowing from 27 schools around the region.

Of the strong Ashburton squad in competition, 10 A finals were reached with victories coming in four events.

Rowing dynamo, Veronica Wall claimed triple success winning the Under 17 and Under 18 Single Sculls events breezing her way through both events unbeaten to continue her golden run on the water.

She then teamed up with Grace Wilson and the pair dominated the Under 18 girls’ double sculls event to complete a great weekend.

Wilson herself was in good form, finishing second in both the heat and the final to Wall in the Under 18 girls’ singles sculls event.

The Ashburton Under 16 girls’ coxed quad sculls team of Lara Biggs, Mollie Gibson, Emma Stagg, Katie Dolan and Emma Jansen suffered a defeat in their heat, but bounced back to claim the title in the final with an impressive row.

Gibson had a good weekend too.

She finished second in the Under 16 girls’ single sculls and then teamed up with Stagg to also grab silver in the Under 16 double sculls.

Haxby Hefford produced a great performance to finish third in the Under 17 single sculls final against some stiff opposition and then teamed up with Harrison Davies to grab second prize in the Under 17 double sculls.

Davies also finished third in the Under 18 single sculls event.

With some big events still remaining, the Ashburton squad is looking in good fettle for further success particularly as they build towards the popular Maadi Cup at Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 28 February 2017