Collegiate exult in regatta medal haul

Wanganui Collegiate SchoolWanganui Collegiate School rowers punched well above their weight coming home from the Aon North Island Secondary Schools regatta with the largest medal haul for some time.

Wanganui High School, Cullinane College and Girls College were also represented while Nga Tawa came home with its first medal from the competition at Lake Karapiro last weekend.

Collegiate master in charge Rosie Austin was ecstatic with their results, especially against schools with far larger numbers.

"It was an exciting finals day and WCS crews cut a track to the podium, giving rowers and coaches reward for those long hours training," Austin said.

WCS' 58 rowers were involved in 47 crews, the largest Wanganui group. The crews made 14 A finals, seven B finals and five C finals, winning two gold medals, three silvers and one bronze.

"Once again we boxed well above our weight competing against 85 schools for a seventh placing overall on points and topping schools with far more rowers to choose from.

"While rowing is in good heart at Collegiate with tremendous support from coaches, the school and parents, our rowing numbers do not allow for a selection process that other schools have the luxury of - all our rowers compete with a significant number in age groups above their own age," Austin said.

Collegiate gold medallists were the U18 boys novice four crew of Dylan Matthews, Jonathan Osborne, Hamish Kelt and Oscar Nesbit, with Storm Lacy the coxswain, coached by ex-student Tyler Scott, and Anton Possegger in the U17 boys single, coached by Barry Banks.

The girls eights crews were elated with their two silvers. Coach Fiona Symes said they had been steadily improving since regrouping in January .

"These silver medals in the U17 and U18 eights is a real confidence boost for the squad, although we are well aware that we need to lift to a whole new level to compete at Maadi Cup [starting on Monday], where the strong South Island schools enter the mix. But for now, we are very happy to be part of a successful weekend for Wanganui Collegiate Rowing," Symes said.

Meanwhile Jackie Gowler and Georgia Nugent-O'Leary won a silver medal in the girls' U17 double scull to snare Nga Tawa's first medal at this competition.