Training with the stars has rowers aiming high

It has been five months since New Zealand rowers Eric Murray and Hamish Bond won gold at the London Olympics but their heroic efforts are still being emulated by the sport's up and coming stars, including Clive's Michael Vanderpeet.

The 18-year-old is a good prospect for the future of the Hawke's Bay Rowing Club which hosted its 140th annual regatta on the Clive River at the weekend.

Vanderpeet competed in the open grade, in the single, double and pair races and had just won a quads heat, rowing with his brother Stephen, when Hawke's Bay Today spoke to the former St John's College student.

"This is the third time I've competed at the Hawke's Bay regatta. When I was a novice, we won everything, the next year it was a bit of a mix and this year I'm happy that I've been able to improve as we've had a few good wins."

The regatta also featured the New Zealand Summer Squad, giving younger competitors a chance to see what it takes to row at an international level.

"I had a chance to row in a fours with a couple of the New Zealand rowers. It was really quick and I found it hard to keep up with them.

"The New Zealand rowers here are really professional towards the sport, they race hard every time and set a good example for the rest of us."

Vanderpeet had noticed the success of the Kiwi rowing teams at the London Olympics had resulted in more novices lining up to be part of the sport in the Bay.

"The increase in novices has just been huge compared to other years. My favourite rower I enjoyed watching at the Olympics was Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, as well as Mahe Drysdale and this weekend I've enjoyed watching the New Zealand team here."

Vanderpeet said he was tempted into rowing by his parents who were still keen competitors, along with brother Stephen and their sister Kirsty who had just started in the novices.

"There's a really good fitness factor about the sport. All of the other sports I do like football and canoe polo help me prepare for rowing.

"But there's also the leadership skills you build up, loading the boat, organising everything, they're just some of the other benefits."

Vanderpeet heads to Otago University this year to study surveying and geography but plans to keep his oar in the water.

"I want to go to the University rowing games and any of the other regattas they're involved with, we'll see how it goes."