Maadi Cup success is a hard row to hoe

by Chris Taewa, Gisborne Herald on 9 Apr 2006 There's more to winning national rowing medals than just sitting on your butt and pulling the hell out of a large wooden stick. A lot more.

Gisborne Girls’ High’s triple medal New Zealand secondary schools rowing campaign on Lake Ruataniwha last week had plenty to do with off-the-water activities as well.

Home after collecting one gold, two silver medals and personal best times from every crew at what Gisborne Boys’ High/Lytton High coach Ross Webb hailed 'a gem of a regatta', the Gisborne students were back at the Anzac Park boat shed doing one of the more mundane but necessary aftermath jobs — cleaning the boats.

A good time to reflect but not a lot of time to rest as rowing is hardly a summer sport anymore.

For girls under-18 pairs gold medal winners Anna Revington and Matilda Halley there’s the extra motivation of New Zealand selection. The duo were predictably named in the Rowing NZ junior trials from which a team will be picked to compete at the junior worlds in Amsterdam in August.

For others there are local East Coast regional trials to select crews for the interprovincials in the South Island in July.

'We keep rolling along, we don’t let them rest,' said Webb, who had nothing but praise for their small Gisborne contingent at a memorable Maadi Cup regatta featuring nearly 2000 students.

'All the kids rowed personal bests regardless of whether they medalled.'

'Competition was stiff, there was not much more than a boat length covering the field in many races. It was great stuff,' he said.

Like any sport, preparation is key and Webb couldn’t fault the students’ dedication.

'These kids are training six days a week and as they get closer to competitions that will increase depending on work load . . . . sometimes in the morning but predominantly after school and on Sundays at 2pm.

They balance on-the-water training with erg (rowing) machine workouts, running, cross-training, the dreaded Kaiti Hill steps and mountain biking. The girls ended their trainings with a step aerobics session.

Girls’ High coach Gordon Halley, who took over from long-time coach Keith Vette, was also delighted but mindful of keeping their feet on the ground and realising that the higher you go the tougher it gets.

'It was interesting talking to other rowers and coaches . . . . a lot of other crews around the place seem to train longer and harder. They can train twice a day and go for more miles.'

The week-long national secondary schools regatta was enhanced by stunning South Island weather.

'A mate of mine from Bay of Plenty said that’s the best Ruataniwha has turned on since 1988. We’ve been to a couple where we were blown away . . . . it was just a magic week.'

Source: www.gisborneherald.co.nz