I'll be back, pledges Mahe

Anne-Marie Emerson | 30th November 2009

Mahe Drysdale's  victory in Sunday's Prospace Billy Webb Challenge brought with it a promise of far bolder plans for next year's event.

Drysdale held off the wild card entry, fellow New Zealander Nathan Cohen, and Belgian challenger Tim Maeyens in fine, sunny conditions on the Whanganui River.

 In the women's race, New Zealander Emma Twigg beat her Australian challenger Sally Kehoe and young New Zealand wild card entry Odette Sceats.

After the race,  Drysdale kept his victory speech short: "If Wanganui can hold this event next year a week after the world championships, I'll be back and I'll bring the world's four top scullers with me."

His challenge was met with roars of approval from the enthusiastic crowd.

The rowing world championships will be held at Lake Karapiro between October 31 and November 7, 2010. It is the first time the championships have been held in New Zealand in 30 years.

Race organiser Rob Hamill was thrilled by the event, although he said the day started tragically with news of a young boy dying in the river on Saturday night.

"We really needed to acknowledge him, so he was included in the karakia before the race."

Mr Hamill said Drysdale's challenge for the 2010 event was "very realistic".

"We've been talking to Mahe about this for a couple of months and we feel the concept is very sound."
 

Mr Hamill said some of the rowers who might make the trip  with Drysdale next year included Allan Campbell, Tim Maeyens and last year's winner of the Billy Webb Challenge, Olaf Tufte.

 Cr Philippa Baker-Hogan, Wanganui District Council's spokeswoman  for the Billy Webb Challenge, said she was delighted by Drysdale's challenge.

"The organising committee has been talking about when the race should be held next year," she said. "I guess Mahe has decided it for us. It's really a fantastic opportunity for Wanganui to have some of the world's best athletes compete here. A week after the world champs, they'll be in peak form."

The Wanganui District Council has funded the Prospace Billy Webb Challenge to the tune of $40,000 over the next three years.

Cr Baker-Hogan said  later that she would be asking the council to consider funding the  challenge for the next 10 years.

"It's obvious that Wanganui has really embraced this event."