Roncalli's Jacqui proves single-minded

by Pat McCord, Timaru Herald on 29 Mar 2006 In her first season in a single, Roncalli's Jacqui Roberts was thrilled to qualify for the A final at the Maadi Cup rowing regatta on Lake Ruataniwha yesterday.

Roberts was plucked out of the other small boats and put in a single by coach Geoff McCrostie and she has thrived.

The pressure was on to finish first or second but she and a girl from Marlborough streeted the opposition.

Before the girls under-17 single Roberts was like a caged lion, anxious to get on the water and get on with it.

'I love the single,' she said. 'I wish I had another year at school to do it again.'

Roberts is looking at doing a sports course in either Dunedin or Christchurch next year.

Coach McCrostie rated Roberts the best female Roncalli rower at the school in the six years he has been involved.

The Roncalli boys u17 coxed quad exploded down the course and won with daylight second. The crew of Fin Scott, Andrew Darling, Sam Whyte and George Proudfoot and cox William Shelker improved markedly on their heat performance.
Coach Dan Kelly was happy.

'They struck a tough heat with the top two qualifiers,' he said. 'They didn't quite click on the day but they will be happier with this race.'
He felt they were scratchy on Monday and let the race go in the last 1000m.
'That is what we concentrated on today,' he said. 'We will see how good they are in Friday's final.'

Andrew Darling and Sam Whyte, in the boys u17 double, had a good win over Timaru Boys High to qualify for the semi final.

Izaak Adams went a big race in the boys u18 single to be second to Rowan Barbalich from St Patricks College.


Source:www.stuff.co.nz