Wanganui Rowing Association invites rowers and supporters of the World Rowing Championships (Lake Karapiro, New Zealand) in early November to head down to Wanganui the following weekend for the Prospace Billy Webb Challenge.

The event is named after Billy Webb who won NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST EVER world sculling title in 1907 and successfully defended the title on the Whanganui River a year later.

Big crowds have watched the best on the planet race including two time Olympic champion Olaf Tufte (Norway) and NZ’s four time world champion Mahe Drysdale.

Lion Foundation Night Sprints ‘Wild Card’ Series – Friday 12 November This year’s event is shaping up to be a cracker with many of the top scullers already signalling an interest to be there. If predictions are anything to go by it looks likely that 20 of the world’s top single scullers will do battle on the Whanganui River. Accordingly, we want to see these athletes lock oars as much as possible so we have built in a new event this year called the Lion Foundation Night Sprints ‘Wild Card’ Series. All crews will compete over approximately 500m in a knock out competition which doubles as a qualifier for Saturday’s main event. It’ll be fun and frantic watching the rower blitz the course with oars frothing the water in a frenzied blur. We can’t wait!

Prospace Billy Webb Challenge – Saturday 13th November A maximum of six rowers for the men’s and women’s events including former champions plus ‘Wild Card’ winners will be racing the 5km course. This clash of the titans in a challenge of the best vs the best mustn’t be missed. And, thanks to the likes of Prospace and Wanganui District Council, it’s free! Please join us on the day. It’s going to be great!

For more information contact Event Director Rob Hamill here

Photo by Rob Bristow

Event Overview