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Perfect conditions welcomed the return of the Beach NZ Summer Series to Ōrewa Beach last week, with rowing clubs and schools from across the North Island gathering for the first event on this season’s calendar.
Beach Sprint NZ co-ordinator David Vallance says the calm seas and ideal weather helped set the stage for an exciting day of racing across 14 events in the club and under-18 categories, with strong showings from West End, Whangarei, Waikato and Bay of Plenty in the finals.
Whangārei Rowing Club was dominant in several key events, sweeping the top three placings in the women’s club coastal double sculls and securing first in the mixed club coastal double sculls. Their under-18 crews also impressed, taking out the boys’ coxed quadruple sculls.
Waikato produced strong results throughout the day, particularly in the open coastal single sculls, where they claimed both first and second place in the men’s and women’s races and first in mixed.
West End enjoyed success in the boys’ under-18 races, winning both the coastal single and double sculls. They were edged by Whangārei in the under-18 quadruple sculls but earlier won the mixed club coastal coxed quadruple sculls.
Bay of Plenty’s girls’ under-18 crews also delivered standout performances, winning the coastal single, double and quadruple sculls.
North Shore Rowing Club secured its sole win of the meet in the mixed open coastal coxed quadruple sculls.
In the club double sculls, West End claimed the men’s title, with Whangārei taking out both the women’s and mixed divisions.
The series continues over summer, with crews now turning their attention to the next round of coastal racing set for Papamoa on December 6. The 2026 NZ Beach Sprint Champs will return to at Ōrewa, on April 25 to 27 over Anzac weekend.
