By TANIA PHILLIPS
UNIVERSITY of Queensland have taken the line honours in the sixth annual Head of the Tweed half marathon rowing race on June 16.
The powerful Uni eights men’s crew completed the course powering their vessel the 21km in one hour and 15 minutes.
Brisbane River Dragons were the first Dragon boat to cross the line, out paddling the local Mt Warning-Coolangatta boat by 32 seconds.
First single rower was Rick Kranen of Coomera Watersports, with second place going to Tweed Heads’ Ben Walsh.
Commercial Rowing Club Brisbane was the winners of the Quad Division with a time of one hour and 21 minutes.
The Propertyspot Surf boat finished in two hours.
Ocean racing ski division was taken by Grant Cook of Currumbin Creek Paddlers in 1 hour and 48 minutes.
Organiser Karin Schiller said it had been a huge event.
“The weather was excellent and spirits high,” she said.
“Returning competitors were eager to better previous times and race ‘virgins’ were excited with expectation if they would last the distance. Supporters and spectators were entertained by music and supplied with good food whilst they waited in the sunshine for the rowers to arrive.
“The Murwillumbah rowing club hosted yet another well-coordinated event and thanks to all participants for their efforts in attending this happy, fun, rowing spectacle. Plans are already afoot to make HoTT 2014 even bigger and more exciting.”
The main prize of the WinTech scull was won by Redlegs Rowing Club. Somerset College took out the trophy for the largest representation of crews at the event.
