Defence in good hands

by David Ogilvie, Wanganui Chronicle on 22 Mar 2006 Wanganui High School’s four young hopes for retaining the Trevor Coker Memorial Trophy at next week’s Maadi Cup rowing regatta will be even better next year – when they’re still at school.

But coach Ian Weenink has a twinkle in his eye when he says that ‘they’ll be around about’ when the under-18 quad is raced at Lake Ruataniwha.

This year’s quad has three new members, with Tyler Sherman being the only member of last year’s national champions. The others were Simon Watson, Matt Adam and Jamie Pentecost. Newcomers are Jordy Campbell, Chris Johnson and Blair Healey – and they’ve been through the season in the North Island so far without a loss.

And they’re all still young enough to also be competing in the under-17 quad at the Maadi Cup regatta. ‘They haven’t lost a race against their age-group this season,’ Weenink said after an early morning workout yesterday.

‘We only went to Karapiro 1 and K2, and we beat them Auckland Grammar and Takapuna Grammar. So we’ve got the North Island covered – but we don’t know the opposition in the South Island.’

Weenink says the thing to do is to look at the schools with good coaches.

‘I would say St Andrews (Christchurch) and Queen Charlotte College (Picton) might be the ones – they’ve got pretty good coaches, and they’re winning down there.

‘Basically you have a look at the coaches and say, ‘yes, I’ll have a good race there. At Queen Charlotte, Dave Bugler churns them out every year. And Dave Hills at St Andrews is another good sculling coach.’

But ask Weenink whether his present crew is better than last year’s, and he hesitates for a long time – and then offers:

‘I think they’re quicker.’ Weenink is also keen on daughter Kristie’s Wanganui High School crews, which won gold in the North Island under-16 doubles, and silver in the U16 quad amongst other results.

Source: www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz