Ged Wall was in action during the Aoraki 1000m Regatta at the weekend. Photo supplied.Ashburton rowers have hit the water running, and the season’s prospects look promising.

The Ashburton Rowing Club’s 2020/2021 squad were unleashed on the waters of Lake Ruataniwha near Twizel at the weekend for the Aoraki 1000m regatta.

It was the opening regatta for all of the novice rowers, with 50 per cent of races a mix of senior and novice competitors.

Ashburton Rowing Club president Justin Wall said the regatta was a lower-key event, one which provided an opportunity for the newer rowers to get among the action.

The boys’ under-16 coxed line-up of Tim Connelly-Whyte, Mitchell Taylor, Henry Wallis, Charles Savage plus Lily Davidson came first in the A final.

Another first was secured by the contingent of Matthew Pearce, Riley Harris, Liam Taylor, Jed Amos plus Jade Jung in the 50 per cent novice men’s coxed event.

After placing second in the heat, Isabel Wall replicated her result in the girls’ under-15 single sculls A final.

Wall then joined siblings Veronica and Ged in the women’s open coxed quad sculls, alongside Charlotte Cox and Davidson, to clinch second in the A final.

Ged Wall secured third in the men’s open single sculls A final, one-upping his heat placing.

Top three finishes ensued in a handful of other events.

Claudia Thomas, Meagan Binnie, Chloe Braas, Leah Reid plus Jed Amos wrapped third place in the women’s 50 per cent novice coxed quad sculls’ B final.

Pearce, Harris, Reid, Sienna Skilling plus Binnie clinched third in the men’s 50 per cent novice coxed quad sculls A final.

The team of Cox, Isabel Wall, Coty Cuadrado, Sophie Gibson plus Davidson finished third in the corresponding women’s A final.

The regatta was ultimately abandoned due to high winds, meaning a number of events did not eventuate.

The Ashburton club’s squad for the season comprises of 26 rowers. The 2000 metre Ashburton Club Regatta is set to be held on November 28-29.

By Adam Burns  © The Ashburton Guardian - 5 November 2020

Lee Gilbert, of Team Babolat, readies himself during open grade interclub tennis on Saturday. Photo Adam BurnsA resolute collective display in the doubles has handed Team Wilson the inside running in local tennis’ open grade.

The team clinched their second straight win of the season on Saturday, edging Team Babolat 7-5 to open up a four-point lead atop the standings after two rounds.

A three-game-to-one win in the doubles was the decisive period of the day, with three of the four games going to a deciding third set.

Both teams shared the honours in the singles, winning four games apiece.

Pete Leonard, Gus Preston, Ashton Cromie and Isobel Brook all got up in their singles games for Wilson.

However Babolat’s Tyler Leonard, Jayden Cromie, Brendon Adam and Holly-Jane Feutz kept things interesting, as they clinched singles victories as both teams remained all square following the singles.

The deciding doubles matches saw Leonard and Jason Feutz prevail over Tyler Leonard and Lee Gilbert 6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (6), Cromie and Preston fighting back to edge Phil Crozier and Jacob Adam 3-6, 7-6 (5), 1-0 (6) and Brook and John Leslie wrangling the win over Holly-Jane Feutz and Angela Ciora 6-4, 4-6, 1-0 (10-4).

Team Yonex, featuring the likes of Rhys Cromie, Pete Kirwan and Aidan Watt won their first showdown, outgunning Team Head 6-2.

Yonex swept the doubles, including one default, three games to nil including a seesawing duel between Matthew Hopkins/Drew Gilbert and Lachlan Adam and Angel Spooner.

After losing the first set, Hopkins and Gilbert fought their way back to claim the win 2-6, 6-1, 10-7.

The matter was settled on court with singles victories to Go Tamura, Ryan Watt (by default) and Josh Jones.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 4 November 2020

The Ashburton College 1st XI might have endured a tough day at the office, but there were plenty of positives to come out of two lower grade matches on the weekend.

Up against the cricketing power of St Andrew’s College, the AshColl first team were humbled, losing by 10-wickets – however, it wasn’t all doom and gloom with the batting line-up managing to survive the entire 50 overs.

After winning the toss and electing to wield the willow, the College side put in a good fight with the bat in hand against a strong bowling line-up.

The Jemmett boys, Angus (25) and Lachie (26 not out) both put in strong efforts out in the middle – facing a combined 150-odd balls.

Isaac Bazeley chipped in with a solid 26 off his 55 ball-innings – but the tail failed to wag and AshColl limped through to 130-9 off their 50 overs.

In reply, St Andrews had no problem in chasing down the moderate tally, and did so without losing a wicket to claim maximum points from the match.

Mitchell Leath looks to line up a shot on his way to 51 for the Ashburton College Year 9 & 10 team on Saturday. Photo supplied.While the first team was in action the school’s 2nd XI was doing battle with St Thomas of Canterbury College in a 40-over match.

Asked to field first by their rivals, the AshColl team heaped the pressure on with only two batsmen making it into double figures – thanks in large to a five-wicket haul from Adam Shears who finished with 5-13 off his 7.4 overs.

St Thomas made it through to 67 before they were all out in the 29th over.

In reply, AshColl made reasonably light work of the run chase, scoring 71 within 16 overs – spearheaded by 31 off 19 balls from Seb McMillan.

There was also a dominant victory for the Ashburton College Year 9 & 10 team on the weekend.

They claimed victory by 146 runs in their match against Weedons Rolleston Youth Cricket at the Ashburton Domain.

Batting first, Ashburton College made an imposing 213-6 off 35 overs with Mitchell Leath (51) and Tom Rosevear (59) both raising the bat for half centuries and top-scoring from the middle order.

The defence with the ball in hand didn’t prove to be too much of a difficult task for the College side, who rolled their visitors for 67 in 24 overs.

Dale Burgess led the bowling attack with 3-9 off his three overs while Newel Buenafe and Rosevear both chipped in with two wickets of their own.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 4 November 2020