 The Maadi Cup New Zealand Secondary School Rowing Championships rowing regatta is on Lake Ruataniwha from 4-10 April – one of the biggest secondary school events on the sporting calendar with 2100 rowers in 1600 crews from 120 schools taking part.
Hamilton Boys’ High School crews have won the last three boys U18 Coxed Eights events, with Christ’s College the last school other than Hamilton to win in 2012. Last weekend Hamilton warmed up by winning the North Island Secondary Schools U18 Eights title. The Christ’s College crew won the corresponding South Island title last weekend, and is one of several crews out to break Hamilton’s hold on the silverware. College Sport Media caught up with their coach Henry Smith, ahead of this year’s Maadi Cup. Congratulations on winning the boys U18 Coxed Eights at the SISS Rowing regatta last weekend – how did the big race pan out? It was a very close race for us. We were able to establish a small lead over St Andrew’s College and Christchurch Boys’ High School out of the start. As the race progressed the crew was able to continue to build on this lead, eventually stretching it out to a 4.5 second margin over Christchurch Boys’ High School at the finish. St Andrew’s College finished a further 10 seconds behind, in third place. We were hoping for a close race heading into the Maadi Cup and this race certainly delivered. What other regattas have this U18 Eights crew been competing in this season? Our crews race as school crews for the whole season - Christ’s College is a rowing club in its own right. Results have been: Canterbury Secondary School Rowing Championships – 1st; South Island Club Championships – 2nd, Men’s Open Eight; Canterbury Rowing Championships – 1st, Men’s Open Eight; Otago Rowing Championships – 2nd, Men’s Open Eight. The Maadi Cup brings the South Island and North Island schools together over six days. Is the Maadi Cup regatta the pinnacle event on the secondary schools rowing calendar, and who are the North Island schools to beat? Yes, the Maadi Cup regatta is the pinnacle for all rowing schools. It is one of the few regattas where athletes compete for their schools and not for their various clubs. The competition in the North Island is very intense. There are six or seven schools who are always pushing each other in both the fours and the eights. They include Hamilton Boys’ High School, Westlake Boys’ High School, Auckland Grammar School, Wanganui Collegiate School, Saint Kentigern College, St Paul’s Collegiate School and Sacred Heart College If your U18 Eight crew goes all the way to the A final, how many races will they row, and what is the time gap between races? If the boys go all the way to the A final on the Saturday, they will most likely row two races (possibly three if we have to go via the repechage). The heats for the U18 Eights are around midday Tuesday. The repechage for the eights are held on Wednesday afternoon. Are the U18 Eight crew members also competing in other races at the Maadi Cup regatta? Yes. All of the boys race in up to three events during the week. This means that most boys will race in between six and nine races over the six days. How long has this U18 Eights crew been together? How have they performed in previous Maadi Cups? The nucleus of this crew has been together for three seasons. Most of the boys have rowed together since 2014 in the U16 crew, with two new boys joining them from the U17s. Three of the crew are returning to 1st eight from last season’s crew (Angus Gray (Captain of Rowing), Cameron Smith and George Gould (coxswain). Five of the crew also rowed in the winning Under 17 crew from last season (Angus Gray, Rowan Taylor, Cameron Smith, Oscar Acland and Oliver Tyler). What other Christ’s College crews will be competing at Maadi Cup - you also won the U15 Coxed Octuple Sculls at last weekend’s South Island regatta? We have Eights, Fours and Quads competing in all year groups: U15, U16, U17 and U18. Yes, the U15 octuple scull won their event. This was a great result for the crew, as they were able to turn the tables on Marlborough Boys’ College who had narrowly beaten them at the Canterbury Secondary Schools Championships two weeks’ earlier. Are the students conversant with the school’s rich history in the Maadi Cup? Yes! It is a major driving force behind the success of our rowing programme. Every race, the boys try to meet the standards set for them in previous seasons. It also links well with the school’s motto Bene tradita, bene servanda (Good traditions, well maintained). As far as we are aware, Christ’s College is the only school that has rowed in every Under 18 final (consecutively) since 1986. Although we were the last school outside of Hamilton Boys’ High School to win the Maadi Cup, this is not a major driving factor for us. We strive to give the boys the best opportunity to succeed in rowing and our rowing programme develops skills they can take forward to other areas of their lives. The Maadi Cup is now in a new era. School rowing programmes are well resourced, heavily funded and driven by enthusiastic parental support. A placing at this regatta is no longer assured and being able to trust a well developed and tested programme ensures the students have every opportunity to succeed at their own levels. Are there former Christ’s College students who have recently been in or are now in New Zealand elite rowing squads? Yes, several Old Boys have rowed in various New Zealand crews.
The coaching staff includes four full-time teachers:
Angus Gray (Head of Rowing), Oliver Tyler (Deputy Head of Rowing), Rowan Taylor, Cameron Smith, Oscar Acland, J. Beadel, M. Sandston, M.Smith, S. Tillman, J. McArthur, F. Mann, G. Clarke, D. Harnett, George Gould (Under 18) J. Newton, R. Turnbull, A. O’Shannessy, M. Batchelor, T. Bosworth, P. Hone, J. Wade (Under 17) J. Sprott, H. Hawkins, G. Flynn, H. Black, S. Darry, H. Voice, H. Zarifeh, S. Swanson, S. Smith, J. Pye, C. Nicholson, L. Batchelor. S. Aitken, B. McGuigan, A. Finlay, W. Murray, T. Hawley, M. Goodwin, Z.Cran (Under 16) F. Smith, J. Batchelor, R. Acland, T. Davis, T. Vincent, A. Todhunter, E. McBride, J. Elvy, Z. Gallagher (Under 15).  Diocesan has a strong rowing programme and one of its top hopefuls is Ella Simanu.
The 17-year-old Year 13 student will lead the charge at the Maadi Cup next month in Twizel. She is an old hand at this marquee event, the 2016 regatta being her fourth since she took up the sport as a fresh-faced Year 9. Last year she medalled once, a bronze in the Under 17 eight, but Simanu has her sights on more silverware this time with her Diocesan teammates. "It's pretty hectic and busy, but really cool to be surrounded by so many rowers all doing the same thing you are. It's such a cool vibe," says Simanu. "We prepare well for it. We'll be at Maadi for 11 days, so you know when to switch on and race." Read the full article by NZ Herald HERE 23/3/2016 NI & SI Rowing Champs - Full Results Photo Credit - Waikato Diocesan, Ruth Walden. Waikato Dio Rowing Champs! The North Island and South Island Secondary Schools rowing championships were held over the weekend. They serve as the main warm up before the Maadi Cup in April. Unlike last year the South Island Championships were not affected by weather which meant the full program went ahead.
North Island Hamilton Boys' High School won nine of the 26 titles available, including the Under-18 coxed eight and four. St. Peter's Cambridge won 10 titles overall, including eight out of 26 girls events, but it was Diocesan School for Girls who captured the Under-18 coxed eight. The regatta was held at Lake Karapiro. Boys Winners Under-17 Singles Sculls: Sam Monkley, Cambridge High School Under-15 Double Sculls: Hamilton Boys' High School Under-18 Coxless Pairs Oars: Hamilton Boys' High School Under-16 Coxed Quadruple Sculls: King's College Under-18 Novice Double Sculls: St. Peter's, Cambridge Under-17 Coxed Eight: St. Kentigern College Under-18 Lightweight Coxed Four: Sacred Heart College Under-18 Coxed Quadruple Sculls: Whakatane High School Under-16 Coxed Four: Hamilton Boys' High School Under-18 Novice Coxed Eight: Sacred Heart College Under-17 Double Sculls: St. Patrick's College, Wellington Under-15 Coxed Eight: Hamilton Boys' High School Under-18 Coxed Four: Hamilton Boys' High School Under-16 Double Sculls: Whakatane High School Under-18 Singles Sculls: Lenny Jenkins, Whakatane High School Under-15 Coxed Quadruple Sculls: Hamilton Boys' High School Under-17 Coxed Four: St. Kentigern College Under-18 Lightweight Double Sculls: Wanganui High School Under-16 Coxed Eight: Hamilton Boys' High School Under-18 Double Sculls: Whakatane High School Under-15 Coxed Four: Auckland Grammar School Under-17 Coxed Quadruple Sculls: St. Peters Cambridge Under-18 Novice Coxed Four: Sacred Heart College Under-16 Single Sculls: Finn Jenkins, Whakatane High School Under-16 Coxed Octuple Sculls: Hamilton Boys' High School Under-18 Coxed Eight: Hamilton Boys' High School Girls Winners Under-17 Cocked Four: Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland Under-15 Quadruple Sculls: St. Peter's Cambridge Under-18 Double Sculls: Hauraki Plans College Under-16 Singles Sculls: Claire Watson, Glendowie College Under-18 Novice Coxed Eight: Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland Under-17 Coxed Quadruple Sculls: St. Peter's Cambridge Under-15 Coxed Four: Waikato Diocesan School Under-18 Coxless Pair Oars: Hillcrest High School Under-16 Coxed Eight: St. Peter's, Cambridge Under-18 Lightweight Coxed Four: St Kentigern College Under-17 Singles Sculls: Anna MacQuarrie, Aotea College Under-18 Novice Double Sculls: Glendowie College Under-18 Coxed Four: Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland Under-16 Coxed Quadruple Sculls: Hauraki Plans College Under-18 Singles Sculls: Brylie Gordon, Hauraki Plans College Under-15 Double Sculls: Glendowie College Under-17 Coxed Eight: Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland Under-18 Lightweight Double Sculls: St. Paul's Collegiate Under-16 Coxed Four: St. Peter's Cambridge Under-16 Coxed Quadruple Sculls: St. Peter's Cambridge Under-18 Coxed Eight: Waikato Diocesan School Under-17 Double Sculls: St. Peter's Cambridge Under-18 Novice Coxed Four: St Peter's Cambridge Under-15 Coxed Octuple Sculls: St Peter's Cambridge Under-16 Double Sculls: Glendowie College Under-18 Coxed Eight: Diocesan School for Girls, Auckland South Island This year's Maadi Cup will be held at Lake Twizel, the venue for the South Island Championships. Christchurch Boys' High School was the most successful boys' college capturing five titles, but Christ's College won the under-18 coxed eight. In the girls events St. Margret's and Rangi Ruru each won four titles. Veronica Wall from Ashburton College won the under-16, 17 and 18 single sculls titles and Jack Lopas from Christchurch Boys' High School had an outstanding meet winning two gold medals and one silver medal. Boys Winners Under-17 Singles Sculls: Mark Taylor, Waitaki Boys' High School Under-15 Double Sculls: John McGlashan High School Under-18 Coxless Pairs Oars: Marlborough Boys' College Under-16 Coxed Quadruple Sculls: Roncalli College Under-18 Novice Double Sculls: Nelson College Under-17 Coxed Eight: St. Andrew's College Under-18 Lightweight Coxed Four: Nelson College Under-18 Coxed Quadruple Sculls: Christchurch Boys' High School Under-16 Coxed Four: Christchurch Boys' High School Under-18 Novice Coxed Eight: Shirley Boys' High School Under-17 Double Sculls: Nelson College Under-15 Coxed Eight: St. Andrew's College Under-18 Coxed Four: Marlborough Boys' College Under-16 Double Sculls: Roncalli College Under-18 Singles Sculls: Jack Lopas, Christchurch Boys' High School Under-15 Coxed Quadruple Sculls: Marlborough Boys' College Under-17 Coxed Four: St. Andrew's College Under-18 Lightweight Double Sculls: Nelson College Under-16 Coxed Eight: Christchurch Boys' High School Under-18 Double Sculls: Christchurch Boys' High School Under-15 Coxed Four: St. Andrew's College Under-17 Coxed Quadruple Sculls: Nelson College Under-18 Novice Coxed Four: Shirley Boys' High School Under-16 Single Sculls: Harrison Davies, Ashburton College Under-16 Coxed Octuple Sculls: Christ's College Under-18 Coxed Eight: Christ's College Girls Winners Under-17 Cocked Four: Rangi Ruru High School Under-15 Quadruple Sculls: St Hildas Collegiate Under-18 Double Sculls: Nelson College For Girls Under-16 Singles Sculls: Veronica Wall, Ashburton College Under-18 Novice Coxed Eight: Rangi Ruru High School Under-17 Coxed Quadruple Sculls: Nelson College For Girls Under-15 Coxed Four: St. Margaret's, College Under-18 Coxless Pair Oars: Craighead Diocsean School Under-16 Coxed Eight: Rangi Ruru High School Under-18 Lightweight Coxed Four: Columba College Under-17 Singles Sculls: Veronica Wall, Ashburton College Under-18 Novice Double Sculls: Villa Maria College Under-18 Coxed Four: Nelson College For Girls Under-16 Coxed Quadruple Sculls: Villa Maria College Under-18 Singles Sculls: Veronica Wall, Ashburton College Under-15 Double Sculls: Wakatipu High School Under-17 Coxed Eight: St. Margret's College Under-18 Lightweight Double Sculls: Dunstan High School Under-16 Coxed Four: Rangi Ruru High School Under-16 Coxed Quadruple Sculls: Ashburton College Under-18 Coxed Eight: St. Margret's College Under-17 Double Sculls: Craighead Diocesan School Under-18 Novice Coxed Four: St. Andrew's College Under-15 Coxed Octuple Sculls: Dunstan High School Under-16 Double Sculls: St. Andrew's College Under-18 Coxed Eight: St. Margret's College  Year 12 Ashburton College rower and defending Maadi Cup Girls U16 Single Scull champion Veronica Wall at the recent Canterbury Secondary School Championships regatta. Photo credit: Steve McArthur The secondary school rowing season is in full swing. This weekend the best crews in the South Island descend on Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel for the South Island Secondary School Championships, while the corresponding North Island Championships are at Lake Karapiro. Then all schools and crews converge on Lake Ruataniwha from 4-10 April for the annual Maadi Cup National Championships – one of the biggest secondary school events on the sporting calendar with 2100 rowers in 1600 crews from 120 schools taking part. Ashburton College’s Veronica Wall is one rower hoping to do well in both regattas in Twizel. The Maadi Cup alternates each year from Karapiro and Ruataniwha. At last year’s regatta, held in the North Island, then Year 11 student Veronica won gold in the U16 single sculls, beating Georgia Keech from Sacred Heart Girls’ College, new Plymouth, and Claudia Waite from Rangitoto College into second and third. Veronica’s win was Ashburton College’s first ever gold at the Maadi Cup. She also won silver in the U16 quad with school mate Grace Wilson and an Ashburton College girls’ crew finished fifth in the U16 quad. This year at Maadi Cup she will also race in several events. “I’ll be doing all three singles – U16, U17 and U18 – and I’m not sure what other boat, either a double or a quad. “This weekend I think I’ll be doing the U16 single, U17 single, U18 single and the U18 quad. Hopefully, if I get through to the finals for all of them, that’ll be eight races over two days, so also good preparation for the Maadi Cup.” Recently, Veronica competed in the Canterbury Secondary School Championships held nearby on Lake Hood, which also doubles as Ashburton College’s training base. In a successful weekend she won gold in the U16, U17 and U18 single sculls. Prior to that, she won the Women’s club single sculls at the South Island Championships at the end of January and then won the same event at the Bankstream New Zealand Rowing Champions on Karapiro in mid-February. Veronica’s father Justin is the coach of the Ashburton College and Ashburton Rowing Club squads and with both of her parents having a strong background in the sport, Veronica took to the water from an early age. “My family have rowed forever, my dad is the official starter down at the Twizel regattas and my mum rowed for Canterbury so I have been around it since I was young.” With the New Zealand rowers continuing to set the pace on the elite world stage, Veronica has no shortage of role models, including 2014 single sculls champion Emma Twigg. “I’ve seen her around; she was at the recent club nationals a couple of weeks ago. I’ve never raced against her though as she would smash me!” Veronica also has a background in netball and, more recently, athletics where she did well at the Ashburton College Athletics Day, but rowing is a fulltime sport on its own. “My focus is on rowing, it continues on through the winter with training and trials to get into teams. I want to try and get into the New Zealand Junior team this year.” The New Zealand Junior team heads to the World Junior Rowing Championships in Amsterdam in late August. Coming up:
 Hamilton Boys High Rowing 2013 Love summer tournament week! Looking back over the Maadi Cup tradition, it is great to reflect on the champion teams that have been at this event.
Boys 2015 Hamilton BHS 2014 Hamilton BHS 2013 Hamilton BHS 2012 Christ's College 2011 Auckland GS 2010 Hamilton BHS 2009 Hamilton BHS 2008 Hamilton BHS 2007 Hamilton BHS 2006 Christ's College 2005 Hamilton BHS 2004 Wanganui Collegiate 2003 St. Paul's Collegiate 2002 St. Paul's Collegiate 2001 Wanganui Collegiate 2000 Wanganui Collegiate 1999 Christ's College 1998 Christ's College 1997 Tauranga BC 1996 Christ's College 1995 Christ's College 1994 Tauranga BC 1993 Christ's College 1992 Auckland GS 1991 St. Bede's College 1990 Christ's College 1989 Christ's College 1988 Christ's College 1987 Hamilton BHS 1986 Wanganui Collegiate 1985 Wanganui Collegiate 1984 Westlake BHS 1983 Westlake BHS 1982 Tauranga BC 1981 Tauranga BC 1980 Tauranga BC 1979 Tauranga BC 1978 Tauranga BC 1977 Wanganui Collegiate 1976 Westlake BHS 1975 Fraser HS 1974 Wanganui Collegiate 1973 Wanganui Collegiate 1972 Wanganui HS 1971 Wanganui Collegiate 1970 Hamilton BHS 1969 Wanganui Collegiate 1968 Wanganui Collegiate 1967 Wanganui Collegiate 1966 Wanganui Collegiate 1965 Wanganui Collegiate 1964 Wanganui Collegiate 1963 Wanganui Collegiate 1962 New Plymouth BHS 1961 Mount Albert GS 1960 King's College 1959 King's College 1958 Mount Albert GS 1957 Mount Albert GS 1956 Mount Albert GS 1955 Mount Albert GS 1954 Mount Albert GS 1953 King's College 1952 Wanganui Collegiate 1951 Mount Albert GS 1950 Wanganui Technical School 1949 Wanganui Technical School 1948 Sacred Heart College 1947 Mount Albert GS Girls 2015 St Margaret’s College 2014 Waikato Diocesan School 2013 St Margaret’s College 2012 St Margaret’s College 2011 Waikato Diocesan School 2010 Rangi Ruru Girls School 2009 Rangi Ruru Girls School 2008 Rangi Ruru Girls School 2007 Rangi Ruru Girls School 2006 Wanganui Collegiate School 2005 Rangi Ruru Girls School 2004 St Margaret’s College 2003 St Margaret’s College 2002 Waikato Diocesan School 2001 St Margaret’s College 2000 Rangi Ruru Girls School 1999 Rangi Ruru Girls School 1998 Rangi Ruru Girls School 1997 Rangi Ruru Girls School 1996 Rangi Ruru Girls School 1995 Rangi Ruru Girls School 1994 Rangi Ruru Girls School 1993 Rangi Ruru Girls School 1992 Rangi Ruru Girls School 1991 Rangi Ruru Girls School 1990 Westlake Girls High School 1989 Westlake Girls High School 1988 Marlborough Girls College 1987 Marlborough Girls College 1986 Marlborough Girls College 1985 Wanganui High School 1984 Wanganui Girls College 1983 Wanganui High School 1982 Wanganui High School 1981 Wanganui Girls College |
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