By JENNI RUTHERFORD
Two years ago Ian Wright had a crew he thought would win St Paul's Collegiate's first Maadi Cup. They were an eight with power and potential but were overcome by a bout of finals nerves and finished third.
But on Saturday it was Wright who had butterflies watching
his Hamilton schoolboy crew win their maiden under-19 eights title at the national secondary schools championships at Lake Ruataniwha, near Twizel.
"This crew were a little different, they were relaxed and confident but not overconfident," coach Wright, a former Olympic rower, said.
The crew of Straton Harris, Scott Lissington, Paul Gerritsen, Toby Lynn, James Dallinger, Bryce Heys, Wim Baars, Chris Morris and coxswain James Barrett won by more than 10 seconds.
It was a relief for Wright, who has been coaching at the school for five years, to finally win the most highly-rated trophy at the regatta.
The event, first raced in 1947, has been dominated by Christ's College and Wanganui Collegiate in recent years. Wanganui, on a hat-trick heading into the final, had to settle for second, with Westlake Boys High School third and Christ's College fourth.
Waikato Diocesan also tasted success for the first time, winning the Levin Jubilee Cup for the under-19 women's eight. The title has not left the South Island for 12 years. Pre-race favourites St Margaret's College, Christchurch, took second and their neighbours, Rangi Ruru School, were third.
Waikato Diocesan, clearly the best of the North Island crews this season, still surprised many on the shore when they held off a fast-finishing St Margaret's to take gold.
"We came from absolutely nowhere," said coach Bruce Holden, a former New Zealand rowing representative. "We weren't the flashest crew technically but [the girls] showed a lot of guts."
Up against the fine-tuned crews of the south and traditional northern guns, the young and relatively inexperienced Waikato Diocesan threw down the gauntlet, leading the entire 2000m.
The crew of Kate Harris, Rachael Spratt, Rachel Godley, Amanda Hines, Rebekah Gee, Kate Saunders, Emma Hodges, Julie Mans and coxswain Laura Kiely gained revenge after they finished second to the same St Margaret's crew in the under-17 eight.
Westlake Girls and Boys High Schools rounded off a successful regatta for the North Island schools, winning their respective under-19 fours finals.
By JENNI RUTHERFORD
Two years ago Ian Wright had a crew he thought would win St Paul's Collegiate's first Maadi Cup. They were an eight with power and potential but were overcome by a bout of finals nerves and finished third.
But on Saturday it was Wright who had butterflies watching
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