Two time Under-23 world sculling champion Joseph Sullivan was the toast of both the South Island and the North Island when the Picton sculler defeated a world class field to secure the North Island championship.
Putting down his own marker for the national championships at Twizel in three weeks, Sullivan followed up a strong semi final with a great win two lengths ahead of an out-of-sorts triple world champion Mahe Drysdale. Former Under-23 world champion Peter Taylor was third.
Taylor and another former world Under-23 champion, Storm Uru, renewed their partnership in the double scull to hand out another second place to Mahe Drysdale, this time teamed up with two time double scull champion Matthew Trott.
New pair combination Hamish Bond and Eric Murray - veterans of the 2007 world championship winning coxless four - won the pair, whilst Murray capped a great day with wins in the Premier coxless four, coxed four and eights events.
In the women's races, Emma Twigg looked comfortable on her way to a win in the Premier single scull, finishing clear of 2001 world silver medallist in the quadruple scull, Paula Twining.
After a great day's racing yesterday at Lake Ruataniwha at Twizel, poor weather forced organisers of the South Island rowing championships to call off their event early, with the fastest heat winners from Saturday receiving the winners medals. A shame for a great regatta that had attracted a superb field of more than 900 athletes.