A GROUP of rookie rowers from Macleans College have sent a warning to their competitors ahead of next month’s Maadi Cup regatta with victory at the national rowing championships last weekend.
“This is an under-16 squad basically and they were competing against people of all ages from junior through to those in their 20 years,” says Macleans College head rowing coach Keith Hibberd. “These girls have huge potential.”
As per the rules to compete at the nationals, the young crew raced for the St George Rowing Club in Panmure, their win netting the club’s first national title in many years.
Hibberd says the team has only been together for about six months but they’ve worked incredibly hard to unleash their huge potential.
Earlier this season they also competed at the Head of Harbour scholastic rowing event, where they had a top three finish.
The girls’ race was several before the much publicised Mahe Drysdale-Rob Waddell clash but they didn’t get to see much of the action as they prepared for the biggest event in their young careers.
They steered their boat to the front of the pack early on and despite last minute onslaughts from several others, were able to hold out for a healthy win.
Hibberd, who was unable to attend last weekend’s event, says the girls are on the water about six days a week in addition to personal fitness programmes.
Next on the agenda are the North Island secondary school championships in a few weeks before a final college squad for the Maadi Cup is selected.
The Maadi Cup is the premier rowing event for secondary school crews.
