Rowing: Billy Webb Challenge amalgamates with Bridge to Bridge Challenge to create spectacle on the Whanganui River
The Rigtec Billy Webb Challenge rowing competition on the Whanganui River returns tomorrow after last year’s event was cancelled.
The event will coincide for the first time with the Whanganui Roofing Bridge to Bridge Challenge and the Half Bridge to Bridge Challenge.
The Billy Webb Challenge is a 5km race for single scullers from the Aramoho 2km course start line to the Union Boat Club pontoon.
The event is named after William “Billy” Webb, New Zealand’s first world champion in the professional single sculls and a member of the Union Boat Club.
The annual challenge began in 2008 on the centenary of Webb’s successful world title defence on the Whanganui against Australia’s Richard Tressider.
Last year’s event was cancelled because of bad weather.
Organiser Grader Howell hoped the weather would be kind this year, and that interest in the event would be rekindled.
Union Boat Club vice-president Chris Thorsen said the Billy Webb Challenge would coincide with Whanganui Rowing Association’s Bridge to Bridge and half Bridge to Bridge challenges to create a greater spectacle.
“We’re amalgamating two events into one for the first time to see if it will actually work well ... the Billy Webb itself has been dropping in numbers.”
The Bridge to Bridge challenge is a 10km race from the Ūpokongaro Cycle Bridge to the Union Boat Club and is limited to eights and octuples.
The half is a 5km race for doubles, quads and fours.
Howell said it would be a spectacle to watch and joked it will be “bigger than the election”, which takes place on the same day.
“We’re hopeful that everyone will finish down here within a half-hour window so, if people are spectating, they will be able to see all the action down here.
“With so many crews on the river in their respective club colours, it brings that spectacle in seeing what the river can provide for rowing. It will be quite exciting.”
The Billy Webb Challenge entries were not finalised yet, but 10 rowers from the 2026 Rowing NZ Summer Performance Hub were set to race, which Howell said would be a highlight.
The performance hub athletes are Jack Pearson, Ryan Gass, Charles Beale, Matthew King, Clayton Potts, Sasha Robinson, Madison Neale, Hannah Matehaere, Laura Feinson and Mackenzie Tuffin.
Howell said the individualism of single sculling made the Billy Webb Challenge special.
“You are just relying on your individual talent; it’s a true contest.”
Thorsen said the event gave competitors the chance to “show what they’ve got”.
The contests include the open men’s Billy Webb Trophy, the Philippa Baker-Hogan Trophy for open women and the Mahé Drysdale Junior Trophy for the top under-18 prognostic boy or girl.
A new trophy, the Masters Jug, will be awarded to the top prognostic rower in the Masters category.
Racing is expected to start from 9am.
Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.