The second World Shortcourse Championship was held in the Tasman and Normandy rooms of the Spencer on Byron Hotel in Takapuna, New Zealand on 8 & 9 September 2007. A vocal crowd of 150 vigorously supported the 80-plus athletes who rowed; spurring them on to a total of 19 new World records and 16 new New Zealand records.

The racing over both days was close and exciting. Records were won and lost by the narrowest of margins. Regan Barkla, racing in the W17 category, broke the age group World 100-m record by one tenth of a second ... only to see her new record broken in the next race by Jonelle Goldsbury from Horowhenua, also by a tenth of a second. Regan later rowed a 500-m pairs with Briar Antonio from Auckland to set a new World record in the Senior Women's Pairs of 1:37.8.

Lois Fisher from Manurewa, despite suffering cerebral palsy, entered several races, managing to swing from wheelchair to rowing machine and back with the same determination and courage she showed in her racing. The crowd applauded Lois's efforts warmly and when she was presented with a well earned Bronze medal, cheered her to the presentation with truly appreciative enthusiasm.

As is usual, the greatest applause was earned by those competitors contesting the relays. Several teams were composed primarily of pupils from Epsom Girls' Grammar School, in their first ever indoor rowing competition. The girls rose to the occasion and turned it on for the vociferous crowd; four tenths of a second separating the first and second placed teams after 2000 metres of constant place changing.

Teams involving the Grammar girls were each given a name playing on the word EGGS (short for Epsom Girls' Grammar School) by the organizer. Not eggsactly words that Grammar School would teach but just adding to the fun!

Lorene Smith, in the women's LW55 class set World records in every individual event. She also set a World record in the mixed pairs with Francis Moxey, narrowly heading off the good pairing of Rae Daniel and Lyndsay Knight. Not satisfied with that, Lorene then made an attempt upon the World LW55 2000-m record and broke it by several seconds to record a new time of 07:44.1. Over the two days of the Championship Lorene raced six times and achieved five World records.

There were some quality indoor rowers from Australia competing, including Doreen Gallagher, Jase Lydom and Nicholas Pay, all of whom set or broke World records over a fast-moving and interesting weekend. We look forward to meeting them again in 2008.

Thanks to Bob and his team for organizing and running a very successful and enjoyable weekend's competition; to Chester's Plumbing and Bathroom Centre for their contestant sponsorship; Concept 2 NZ Ltd for supplying the race system and race machines and to competitors who loaned their machines for use in warm-ups.