Classy Drysdale shows he's up for the challenge

Iain Hyndman | 30th November 2009

World champion single sculler Mahe Drysdale pounced on a tactical error by wild-card entry Nathan Cohen to claim the Prospace Billy Webb Challenge yesterday.

Drysdale overcame a slightly tardy beginning at the start of the 5km journey on the Whanganui River to convincingly beat  Cohen by several lengths, with Belgian Tim Maeyens languishing in third, a distance away.

The second annual Prospace Billy Webb event was a day for the favourites, with top-ranked New Zealand women single sculler Emma Twigg just as easily accounting for Aussie Sally Kehoe, with wild-card entry Odette Sceats finishing a long way back in third.

Drysdale promised to bring the world's top four rowers to next year's event if it was held a week after the world championships at Lake Karapiro.

Billy Webb Challenge organiser Rob Hamill said his team would work hard to make that happen.

"It would mean hosting the event in Wanganui in the second week of November - three weeks earlier than this year's even - but we will be working hard to make sure that happens," Hamill said yesterday.

Earlier in the week, Cohen had said the only way to beat Drysdale was to get out in front and stay there - which initially he did.

"Nathan really took it to me at the start and gained the lead, but he crossed over allowing me to sneak inside after a few hundred metres.

"It got a bit tight between us at one stage and no one was giving any quarter - it was a tough event and both Nathan and Tim are always hard to beat," Drysdale said.

 Twigg, fourth ranked in the world, said while she took the early advantage, she had one worrying moment nearing the last bend.

"After the third bridge, I thought Sally was coming up on me, so I just dug in and kept rowing. This is race one of a long season, ending with the worlds next year, so it was good to get it out of the way with a win," she said.

Kehoe was happy with her performance after missing the start.

"I just didn't seem to make any impression on Emma's lead. But I am happy with my performance - it's a step in the right direction and I wasn't absolutely flogged by her at the finish."

All six rowers praised the event as the ideal vehicle to kick-start their campaigns for next year's world champs, but also to profile the sport to the public.