Rowers represent their province with pride

Marlborough college rowers certainly made their presence felt at the Aon Maadi Cup rowing regatta on Lake Karapiro, reaching a string of A finals and ultimately bringing home four medals.

Marlborough Girls’ College crews fought their way into nine A finals, winning one gold medal and a bronze.

Crews from Marlborough Boys’ College took part in seven A finals, claiming silver and bronze medals.

Showing the way for the Marlborough contingent was the gold medal-winning under-16 four comprising Grace Straker, Sophia Saggers, Brooke Harper, Mila van Rensburg and Grace McKendry.

After producing the quickest time in their heat, they progressed directly to Saturday’s A final. Up against powerful combinations from St Margaret’s, Christchurch Girls’ High School and Rangi Ruru the MGC quartet rowed their way to the front and stayed there, thrilling their loyal supporters who had made their way north, plus coaches Sean O’Neill and Andrew Blake.

The previous day the MBC boys under-16 coxed four, comprising Hamish Lindstrom, Jock Flanagan, Louis Girling, Blake Campbell and coxswain Jack Shaw picked up a silver medal, just five seconds adrift of the victorious Timaru BHS crew.

Three more bronzes were added to the southbound luggage, one on Friday when the MGC girls under-16 eight of Straker, Saggers, Harper, Abby Craig, Izzy Brick, van Rensburg, Elizabeth Bowron, Bella Rayner and Molly Wilkes bagged a bronze medal behind crews from St Margaret’s and Rangi Ruru.

The other came on the final day, MBC’s under-15 coxed quad of Willem Rowe, Aidan Bennett, Logan Flight, Hunter Marfell and Blake Marfell finishing third, less than two seconds behind the winning Wellington College crew.

The annual regatta, which concluded on Saturday, is the country’s largest secondary schools sporting event.

Over 2000 rowers pulled on their school colours and gave it their all in 430 races for 52 events. 156 medals were spread over 49 schools. And 28 schools were crowned national secondary schools' champions.

Results

MGC

A Finals

U18 eight – Grace Straker, Lexi Timpson, Brooke Harper, Sophia Saggers, Emma Flanagan, Mila van Rensburg, Ella Barnes, Hazel Glover and Molly Wilkes – 5^th in A final

U18 novice coxed four – Elizabeth Bowron, Iris Vavasour, Georgette Herkt, Georgia Marfell and Tessa Unwin – 7^th in A final

U18 pair - Lexi Timpson and Emma Flanagan – 5^thin A final

U18 novice eight – Elizabeth Bowron, Iris Vavasour, Katie Fenwick, Abby Craig, Georgette Herkt, Anna Hurren, Lily Smith, Ebony Howes and Lilly McMillan – 6^th in A final

U18 coxed four – Lexi Timpson, Ella Barnes, Emma Flanagan, Hazel Glover and Molly Wilkes – 6^th in A final

U18 novice coxed four – Katie Fenwick, Abby Craig, Lily Smith, Anna Hurren and Lilly McMillan – 6^th in A final

U17 coxed four – Jess Bennett, Hazel Glover, Ella Barnes, Bella Rayner and Grace McKendry – 7^th in A final

U16 four – Grace Straker, Sophia Saggers, Brooke Harper, Mila van Rensburg and Grace McKendry – 1^st in A final - GOLD

U16 eight – Grace Straker, Sophia Saggers, Brooke Harper, Abby Craig, Izzy Brick, Mila van Rensburg, Elizabeth Bowron, Bella Rayner and Molly Wilkes – 3^rd in A final - BRONZE

MBC

A Finals

U18 pair – Zac Jenkins, Dylan Locke – 6^th in A final

U18 novice coxed quad – Walter Wickham, Henare Panaho, Willem Rowe, Aiden Bennett and Blake Pitts – 7^thin A final

U17 pair - George Lindstrom and Shane Henry – 4^th in A final

U16 coxed quad – Hamish Lindstrom, Jock Flanagan, Louis Girling, Blake Campbell and Blake Pitts – 7^thin A final

U16 coxed four – Hamish Lindstrom, Louis Girling, Jock Flanagan, Blake Campbell and Jack Shaw – 2^ndin A final – SILVER

U15 octuple sculls – Willem Rowe, Aiden Bennett, Luke Bown, Logan Flight, Toby Randall, Drew Materoa, Bronson Blissett, Hunter Marfell and Blake Marfell – 5^th in A final

U15 coxed quad – Willem Rowe, Aidan Bennett, Logan Flight, Hunter Marfell and Blake Marfell – 3^rdin A final - BRONZE