Maadi Cup goes south

by Rowingnz.com on 1 Apr 2006 The prestigious Maadi Cup for the fastest boys under-18 eight in the country went to Christchurch’s Christs College in a nail biting three way finish. Christs, Kings College of Auckland and Hamilton Boys High School went neck-and-neck to the line in an exciting finish that saw all three boats go under six minutes.

Former Rowing New Zealand CEO Mike Stanley said he could not remember any crews going faster on Lake Ruataniwha. Christs College, under the guidance of Irish Olympian coach Tony O’Connor now regain the Maadi Cup after a six year gap.

The girls under-18 eight was just as exciting with a two-way battle between Wanganui Collegiate and Rangi Ruru taking the race to the line. The battle of the frontrunners meant that they built up a gap between them and the rest of the field, with Sacred Heart Girls, Hamilton, back in third. This is the first time Wanganui Collegiate girls have won the prestigious Levin Jubilee Cup and is testament to their coach Fiona Symes who was also named Rowing New Zealand junior coach of the year.

The eights race finished up a day of finals that saw the emergence of some new rowing stars. Racing twice in the single, Takapuna Grammar’s Henry Poor opened with a win in the under-17 single. “That one was bloody hard,” Poor admitted at the end of the race. His strategy to go out hard – and continue to go hard - paid off for Poor who had finished seventh last year. “I’ve been a lot more committed this season,” said Poor who says he gets his inspiration from the other athletes he competes against.

Second place in the boys under-17 single, Nelson College’s Blair Jones gave a gutsy effort in his first season as a single sculling. “We train in all boats and my coach (Andrew Conway) saw that I was good in the single,” said Jones. Jones also raced in the under-18 eight.

Poor went on to make it a double-header by also winning the under-18 single in a closely fought race that saw the lead change several times with Poor pulling it off ahead of Ryan Brown of Marlborough Boys College in second and Royce Finlayson of Bethlehem College.

Two races, one hour apart. Julia Edward and Kylee McFetridge of Rotorua Girls High, were ecstatic when they crossed the line in first place in the girls under-18 double. Just 15 years old, Edward is in her second season rowing. Partner McFetridge, 16, is in her third season. This surprise win came after finishing second an hour earlier in the under-17 double.

McFetridge commented that they knew their fitness – 12 sessions a week – would pay off. “We knew that we’re not as big as the other crews, so we know we have to use our fitness to come through later in the race,” said McFetridge after her race.

Jacqueline Roberts and Victoria Walden of Roncalli College were the surprise third place finishers after coming into the final with one of the slower qualifying times. Walden describes her coach’s, Geoff McCrostie’s, words, “Go out and have fun and come back looking dead.” Nelson College for Girls finished second.

The St Andrews College third boat pulled off a stunning win in the boys under-18 double with Samuel Thomson and Richard Storey already leaving the pack behind with just 500 metres rowed. The duo are South Island champions so knew they had a good shot at the gold and their impressive lead meant Thomson was confident enough to know they didn’t need to sprint. This medal adds to the two bronzes (under-17 and under-18 quad) that Thomson and Storey have already won.

Meanwhile, the real battle went on behind St Andrews between two Tauranga crews both from Bethlehem College. At the line Joseph Stock and Royce Finlayson had pulled off second with Aaron Crowley and Bradley Johnston taking third.

“The quality and standard of racing here is testament to the future of rowing,” said Rowing New Zealand’s CEO Craig Ross at the end of the regatta which saw nearly 2000 secondary school rowers compete from 101 schools

Source: www.rowingnz.com