Rowers performing at Maadi

by Pat McCord, Timaru Herald on 30 Mar 2006 Young Lydia Dockrill is the unsung heroine of Timaru Girls High rowing as she looks forward to competing in three A finals at the Maadi Cup rowing regatta on Lake Ruataniwha.

Regardless of final results this is already the most successful Timaru Girls High squad to have competed at the Maadi Cup with four crews though to A finals.
Dockrill is a member of the under-16 quad, the under-16 four and the under-18 four.

The other crew is the under-16 light weight four. ‘We are happy to be right up there, the crews are all within the four fastest on times,’ said coach Keith McRobie who coaches with Steve Sanders. But on finals day anything can happen.
The under-16 coxed quad of Liz Ireland, Nicole Mehrtens, Dockrill, Nocila Coulter and cox Nicola Durie, blew their repechage opposition apart with a powerful scull.

‘I was a bit worried about this combination,’ said Sanders. ‘They hadn't had much opportunity to compete this summer as they were one of the crews affected when regattas were blown out by high winds. He said this was a crew who liked to get out front to keep an eye on the opposition.

‘It is an attitude thing, they believe they can control the race from out in front,’ he said. ‘Today they led from start to finish.’ The under-18 coxed quad and the under-17 novice four had to be content with a B final.

The real Craighead under-17 coxed quad stood up yesterday with an outstanding effort to win their repechage. ‘They exceeded all expectations,’ said coach Dean Milne. ‘They were not the fastest crew going in.’ He said they achieved their goal for the regatta.

‘Crews come here to have a crack at a gold medal. If you are not in the A final you cannot win a medal.’

The Roncalli under-18 double of Victoria Walden and Jacqui Roberts flew down the course to win their repechage. ‘They have been competing together for four years,’ said coach Geoff McCrostie. ‘They have been very competitive right through.’

In the same heat Briedi McCrostie and Jaclyn Parker qualified for the B final coming home fourth.

Timaru Boys High under-17 single sculler Jeremy Gaskin fought his way into second place and qualified for the A semi finals in spite of being off colour.
He was joined by teammate Richard Kelland who finished third.

Gaskin and Kelland are in a B final in the under-18 boys double.