Rowing: Murray retires, ending unbeaten streak of 'Kiwi pair'

FILE PHOTO: 2016 Rio Olympics - Rowing - Victory Ceremony - Men's Pair Victory Ceremony - Lagoa Stadium - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - 11/08/2016. Eric Murray (NZL) of New Zealand and Hamish Bond (NZL) of New Zealand pose with their gold medals. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - One of rowing's most dominant partnerships has ended with the retirement of double Olympic champion Eric Murray, who won back-to-back gold medals for New Zealand in the men's coxless pair with Hamish Bond.

Murray's exit from the sport ends the pair's eight-year unbeaten streak at 69 races, a period in which they captured six world titles, took gold at the 2012 London Games and romped home in their Olympic title defence in Rio last year.