The event has been reintroduced into the club’s calendar to commemorate the effort by Augustus Wilkes, who won the race in 1890.

A field of 25 Manning Rowing Club members contested the race.

Rowers left the start line at 30 second intervals with the four doubles leading away. Thirteen singles competed for the Augustus Wilkes Shield and the pace was on from the start. The men’s singles race was between Reddel and young rower Sam Steedman with Graham Nix pushing them all the way.

Fastest woman was Nichol Pullen with a time of 1 hr 21 min 56 secs. Mandy Cavill was only five seconds behind in second place.

The doubles crew of John Lam and James Kennedy recorded the fastest time of 1 hr 15 minutes and 59 seconds for the 16 kilometres.

All the members then gathered for a bacon and eggs breakfast and the presentation of the Augustus Wilkes trophy to Pullen and Reddel by Roy Wilkes, the grandson of Augustus.

Next weekend the club hosts the Central Districts Rowing Association’s championships on the Manning. Clubs from Port Macquarie to Brisbane Waters will attend.