Sport
1News

Watch: Robbie Manson celebrates beating Kiwi single sculls rival Mahe Drysdale with cold Lion Red beer on Lake Karapiro

March 5, 2019

Today's showdown was the final selection trial for this year's international season.

Robbie Manson has taken another serious step towards claiming the single sculls seat for the Tokyo Olympics after beating rival Mahe Drysdale.

Manson and Drysdale squared off on Lake Karapiro this morning in the final selection trial for this year's international season with Manson coming out on top by two boat lengths.

It continues a dominant run of wins for Manson, who also beat Drsydale at the New Zealand Rowing Championships at Lake Ruataniwha last month.

"It was a good race, I feel like I was going a bit better than at nationals," Manson told 1 NEWS after this morning's race.

"This was the race that always mattered... there was a lot more riding on this."

Manson defeated Mahe Drysdale to cement his spot as NZ's premier single sculler.

The win means the 29-year-old will likely man the single sculls seat at this year's World Championships in Austria, ahead of next year's Olympic Games. Manson has held the role for New Zealand at the past two world championships but has failed to secure a medal on both occasions.

Manson was greeted by a friend and a cold beer after the race as he rowed in to shore.

"One of my mates brought it down at the end and we had a little celebration."

"I don't know if I'm allowed to do that but it's happened anyway!"

Manson will have to wait until Thursday to get official confirmation from Rowing NZ selectors though, when the single and other crews are announced for 2019.

SHARE ME

More Stories