Former student succeeding in variety of sports arenas

A former student of Kaitaia Abundant Life school and club rugby player from Te Rarawa RFC has been making waves in his new sport of rowing.

Representing St Peter's School in Cambridge in his second season at the sport, Jack Foster became a champion at the 2013 North Island secondary schools rowing regatta on Lake Karapiro this month with his team winning gold in the boys under-16 coxed quadruple sculls in 6 minutes 39.4 seconds in the 2000m race, and bronze in the double sculls in 6:56.55s.

These results showed Jack's hard work in his new sport was beginning to pay off, noted his father, John.

Regarded as the top rowing school in the country, St Peter's was well placed to retain this reputation at the secondary schools nationals, aka the Maadi Cup regatta - also being held at nearby Karapiro - which began yesterday; with Jack and his teammates attempting to secure national titles in the same two under-16 events, quadruples and doublesculls.

Jack has also been selected to trial for the under-18 North Island rowing squad taking on the South Island in April.

The Foster family, who now live in Whangarei, always knew that Jack's biggest problems at St Peter's would be what to leave out of his schedule. His rowing commitments saw him deciding to forego a promising cricket season, while in September, he went on a three week tour of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England with the school's 1st XV, which forced him to "sacrifice" both the term school holidays, and a chance at making Waikato rep rugby, his father noted.

"That he went on a first XV tour as a year 10 student would be no surprise to the people of his former Far North club, Te Rarawa RFC," said John, pointing out Jack was the Rarawa under-13 Player of the Year a couple of years ago, and also made the Mangonui under-13 rugby rep team.

Since leaving, he has represented his new school in discus, triple jump and shotput at the Waikato/ Bay of Plenty secondary schools athletics champs and has also featured in the school's basketball team.

"Whenever Jack is asked what's the secret of being such a good sportsman, he lets everyone know it's plenty of good kaimoana from the Far North!" John said.