TIMARU - There was a changing of the guard at the weekend when Wanganui Collegiate won the Maadi Cup at the New Zealand secondary school rowing championships on Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel.
Collegiate trailed 1999 champions Christ's College for most of the 2000m race until a late charge rocketed them to a one-length win in the under-19 boys' eights.
St Paul's were third and Auckland Grammar fourth.
Wanganui Collegiate last won the Cup in 1986.
The Levin Jubilee Cup, for the women's under-19 eights, stayed with Canterbury's Rangi Ruru Girls' School who left cross-town rivals St Margaret's trailing for second.
It was the 10th consecutive win for Rangi Ruru, whose No 2 crew finished third. Rangi Ruru also beat St Margaret's to win the girls' under-16 eight.
The blue riband events were held in darkening conditions after a two-and-a-half-hour break because of high winds, which had already delayed the start of the day's racing for 90 minutes.
The final race did not start until 6.30 pm and the last four B finals were cancelled to get the regatta finished before dark.
There was a massive upset in the boys' under-17 eights final when Westlake Boys' High from Auckland pipped favourites Christ's College by half a second.
Dunstan High School retained its boys' under-19 doubles sculls title.
With 82 schools competing at the event, officials were glad to see 67 of them competing in A finals.
- NZPA
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