St Andrew’s the kings of Karapiro with Maadi Cup magic
St Andrew’s College, Christchurch have triumphed in the two of the biggest races in school rowing, after winning the Maadi Cup for the first time yesterday.
The victory in the marquee under-18 boys eight followed their win in the Springbok Shield (under18 coxed four) the day before, doing the double at the competitive regatta on Lake Karapiro.
The Maadi Cup was a back and forth race, with St Andrew’s edging past Christ’s College to claim a historic victory by 0.98 seconds from Christ’s — the 11-time former cham- pions — who on his occasion had to settle for silver.
St Andrew’s coach Dale Maher said the success was huge for the school.
“It is the first time we’ve had an
extremely competitive eight and the first time we’ve won Maadi. I don’t think the boys have quite realised yet what they have done.”
Bronze went to Hamilton Boys’ High, who were the most successful school throughout the regatta, winning the Star Trophy for the best overall school, and the Executive Trophy for the best sweep oar school.
The other big race of the day was the girls’ under-18 eight, for the Levin Jubilee Cup, with Auckland’s Diocesan School for Girls defending their title.
After winning the Cup for the first time last year, they mounted a perfectly-timed successful defence by storming past St Margaret’s College to claim a win by three seconds. St Paul’s Collegiate — winners of yesterday’s Dawn Cup (under-18 coxed fours) — earned the bronze medal.
The other star of the final day of rowing was sculler Veronica Wall, who completed a superb school rowing career with victory in the under-18 single sculls and quadruple sculls, earning her a magnificent four gold medal haul. Wall, who also won four golds last year, was dominant in the single sculls to win by 12 seconds, and teamed with her Ashburton College crewmates to beat out Tauranga Girls’ College in the quadruple sculls.
Bradley Leydon of John McGlashan College won the boys’ under-18 single sculls.