NESTLE Rowing Club’s Aaron Skinner edged out a former clubmate to win a Rowing Victoria state regatta title on the weekend.
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Skinner, 23, defeated Chris Horsfall by a length to claim gold in the 1000-metre adaptive single scull at Nagambie Lakes.
The pair battled it out for the top honour at Lake Wendouree last year.
Club coach Val Bertrand said Skinner, who has autism, handled the conditions well. “It was windy and he just got out in front and pretty much stayed there,” she said.
“Chris pushed him but he hung on in the end.”
The Melbourne-based Horsfall, who is vision-impaired, started his rowing career in Warrnambool.
Bertrand said Skinner would try to replicate his strong state-level form at the national championships in Penrith later this month.
Skinner is also a competitive swimmer and travels to Hamilton for regular training sessions with his club there.
Meanwhile, Mpower clients are enjoying weekly rowing sessions as part of its ‘Active Oceans’ initiative — a summer program designed around water activities. Sebastian Serra and Phil Anderson hit the water yesterday in adaptive single sculls.