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29 April 2011

Waikato University rowers claim Hebberley Shield

The Waikato University Rowing Club has claimed the country’s oldest rowing trophy at the New Zealand University Rowing Championships at Lake Karapiro on April 23.

The men’s eights crew of Chris Morrison, Matthew Glenn, Andrew Myers, Logan Rodger, Will Meats, Giacomo Thomas, Finian Scott and stroke Shaun Kirkham, coxed by Lindsay McCowan and coached by Mike Gilbert, held the lead over favourites Otago University over the two mile course, finishing in 9 minutes and 59.3 seconds.

University Rowing Club President Matt Glenn said “the Hebberley has been raced for since 1928 and the guys were pretty stoked and excited to have won by so much. I had a grin on my face from about 500 meters to go. I knew there was no way Otago would catch us.”

The Waikato crew led from start to finish, beating the nearest Otago team by 17.6 seconds. The third team to cross, Otago 2, were 29 seconds behind Waikato.

Auckland, Lincoln and Victoria Universities were the others competing in the race.

A Hebberley Shield traditional was upheld in the wake of the victory with the youngest crew member Shaun Kirkham, 18, having to hold the 17kg trophy off the ground all night.

Overall the University Rowing Club won two gold, two silvers and five bronze medals to place fourth overall at the regatta.

The next big event for the University Rowing Club is the Great Race on the Waikato River in September.

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NEW TO WAIKATO: Men’s eights crew (back from left) Lindsay McCowan, Mike Gilbert, Logan Rodger, Andrew Myers, Matthew Glenn, Shaun Kirkham, Chris Morrison, Giacomo Thomas; (front from left) Finian Scott and Will Meats stand beside the newly won Hebberley Shield.

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IN THE DRINK: Cox Lindsay McCowan gets dunked in celebration of the Hebberley Shield victory.

ENDS

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