Heats concluded on day two of 2017 Aon Maadi Cup

PHOTO CREDIT: STEVE MCARTHUR Rangi Ruru Girls' School under-18 coxed four

Day two of the 2017 Aon Maadi Cup at Lake Karapiro saw all remaining heats concluded and the line ups for quarter, semi and some A finals determined.

Despite a full day of racing yesterday the regatta's size of over 2100 athletes and 52 events meant there were a number of heats left to race this morning before the repechages could get underway.

Athletes and spectators were treated to hot and sunny conditions, a welcome change after yesterday's changeable weather and torrential downpours. Racing was again completed without interruption.

The challenge was laid down early in the girls' under-18 coxed eight heats with 2016 winners Diocesan School for Girls asserting their dominance yet again with a win ahead of Wakatipu High School. They will be joined in the A final by St Peter's School, St Margaret's College, Christchurch Girls' High School and Columba College, with the final two places yet to be decided. 11 crews will face the repechage including fifteen-time winners Rangi Ruru Girls' School along with previous winners Westlake Girls' High School and Wanganui Collegiate School.

The battle for the Maadi Cup also got underway in spectacular fashion with some thrilling racing in the heats for the boys' under-18 coxed eight. The pressure was on with crews needing a top-two finish to progress straight to the A final.

After a blistering row down the course Hamilton Boys' High, Saint Kentigern College and Sacred Heart College (Auckland) were all locked bowball to bowball in the final 250 metres of the first heat. A powerful finishing charge from Hamilton Boys' High School proved too strong for their competitors with Saint Kentigern College close behind in second place forcing Sacred Heart College and the remaining crews into a repechage.

Christ's College's number two crew and Westlake Boys' High School also secured their place in the A final by going one-two in the second heat and will be joined by Saint Andrew's College and Christchurch Boys' High School from heat number three. The last two A final berths will be decided by repechage tomorrow.
The final line up for the Dawn Cup, the girls' under-18 coxed four, was also confirmed.

Rangi Ruru Girls' School will join the mix for the A final after comfortably winning their repechage as well as with Waikato Diocesan School who loped to victory with almost ten seconds to spare on closest rival St Margaret's College.

The field for the largest event of the regatta, the boys' under-16 single sculls, was narrowed down over the course of eight heats. The top three from each heat move through to the A final, while the last place getter in each heat is eliminated and the rest must now face a repechage to decide their fate.

The regatta caters for various age groups and boat classes, as well as both senior rowers and novices who have been rowing for less than one season.

The Rangi Ruru Girls' School crew of Francesca Gallaway, Alice Graham, Lauren Stapylton-Smith, Hannah MacFarlane and Sophie Nelson (cox) clocked the fastest time in the girls' under 18 novice coxed four heats by eight seconds, and were over 20 seconds clear of their closest rival in their heat. The crew will progress straight to the semi-final along with Craighead Diocesan School and Christchurch Girls' High School. The remaining crews will contest a repechage.

Other racing during the day included repechages for races held yesterday.The regatta continues tomorrow with repechages, quarter and semi-finals.
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Full results, schedule of racing and entries can be found at www.rowit.co.nz.

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