Rowing: Rotorua excels at Cambridge Town Cup

The Rotorua Rowing Club had a good regatta at the three-day Cambridge Town Cup at Karapiro, one of the biggest rowing events held in New Zealand.

Progression from heats to finals during the long weekend was tough, with only a third of crews entered making finals on the Sunday. Most Rotorua rowers raced on finals' day, so the Rotorua coaching team was pleased.

"There was a noticeable improvement from all rowers from the previous Karapiro regatta before Christmas," said head coach Alastair Riddle.

There were several stand-out performances from Rotorua rowers in A finals.

Placing second in the girls' under-15 coxed quad in 7m 51.33s were Sofia Morrell (stroke), Alie Henderson Corporal, Meg Aitchison, Sara Whibley and Phoebe Johnston (cox), coached by Riddle and Fiona Bassett.

Winning the girls' under-17 coxed quad in 7m 26.18s were Stacey Tamblin (stroke), Hannah Cox, Emma Cronshaw-Hunt, Alice West and Phoebe Johnston (cox), coached by Chris Pearson.

Winning the men's novice double sculls in 7m 22.47s were Jonathan Curtis (stroke) and Jordan McNamara-Spackman, coached by Glen Reichardt.

Third in the men's club double sculls in 7m 01.03s were Conner Spackman (stroke) and Bradley Grant, coached by Reichardt.

Second in the men's novice eight in 6m 33.17s were Tom Coleman (stroke), Conner Broughton, Jonathan Curtis, Jordan McNamara-Spackman, Cole Starling, Andre Lelievre, Samual Park, Sean van Nieuwenhuizen and Tyla Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen (cox), coached by Harry Ashby.

Winning the boys' under-17 coxed four in 6m 45.47s were Lewis Morrell (stroke), Bradley Grant, Stephen Wright, Conner Spackman and Keely Gauge (cox), coached by Reichardt.

There were also good results from the third-placed boys' under-17 double sculls (7m 01.03s) of Conner Spackman (stroke) and Bradley Grant, coached by Reichardt.

Third in the girls' under-17 double sculls in 7m 49.85s were Olivia Ashby (stroke) and Stacey Tamblin, coached by Pearson.

The club has a few senior rowers going to the North Island Club Championships in two weeks.

"Most of the rowers are now settling in to three weeks of intensive training," said Riddle. "Then, they'll attend a weekend training camp in preparation for the schools' racing season in March."

The rowing season ends on March 24, with the New Zealand Secondary Schools regatta, which is to be hosted by Karapiro this year.