Fog lifts for a first day of quality racing
The honour of winning the first race of the historic 75th edition of the Aon Maadi Cup secondary schools regatta went to Auckland’s King’s College.
When racing on day one began at Lake Ruataniwha the fog lay low and thick down the course for the first couple of hours.
Baxter McGillivray won the opening heat of the boys under 17 single scull and even though the day was given over to heats racing, and some crews held a bit back in the tank, there was plenty of quality racing over the 2000m course.
In that under 17 single, three of the heat winners clocked remarkably similar times – Marley King-Smith of Wakatipu High in 7min 37.31s, Jack Henry from Onewhero Area School put up 7:37.60; while McGillivray posted 7:37.79.
There are 1302 rowers listed to compete this week, inspired by 267 coaches and 95 schools taking part.
And while there are some big school contingents, spare a thought for the solo rowers.
Like Charlotte Lightfoot, sole representative from Picton’s Queen Charlotte College. She’s in the under 18 single and produced the quickest time in today’s heats.
She clocked 8:34.38 to head into Thursday’s semi-finals in good shape. She won well, wasn’t stressed, or pressured and admitted ‘’it felt pretty smooth and relaxed.
‘’I wasn’t too worried about how I placed, and I think I can probably do a bit better.
‘’I kept a bit in the tank and felt pretty good.’’
The Marlborough Sounds resident, isn’t fazed at not having any schoolmates for company.
She’s good friends with Nelson-based rowers and some of the girls she rowed with through the club season are doing other duties at Maadi, including boat holding – ‘’so I’m never really alone’’.
There were several rowers at the start of the club season then they quit the school season. Lightfoot won the under 17 pair at last year’s national schools regatta with Jamie Cunningham, who has now moved on.
Lightfoot is coached by Kaye Surgenor, mother of the former international and still the world record holder, Robbie Manson. Surgenor is helping out partly because Queen Charlotte is her old school, and she was part of the crew who won the inaugural Dawn Cup for women’s fours racing back in 1980.
‘’I don’t know how fast the other girls are. We haven’t seen much North Island rowing so we’ve no idea how fast they go,’’ Surgenor said.
‘’As I said to Charlotte, she can only control her boat and make it go as fast as she can. Don’t be influenced or worry about anyone else in the field.’’
The Star Trophy, for overall champion school, was won last year by Christchurch’s dominant Rangi Ruru and they showed signs again today that they won’t relinquish that crown without a fight.
The boys under 18 coxed four who compete for the Springbok Shield, has been the preserve of Hamilton Boys’ High School a record 16 times, including its debut appearance on Wellington’s Oriental Parade in 1965.
They won their opening heat today in 6:44.61, but there was a big tussle for second between rival Christchurch schools, Cashmere High School - whose four were all members of last year’s South Island under 18 eight, and Christ’s College.
And it’s worth pondering that the other two heats were won by Mount Albert Grammar and Christchurch Boys’ High in faster times.
There is promise of a decent duel for the under 17 girls single, battling for the Concept 2 Challenge Cup and Laszlo single scull the winner receives for their school.
From 50 entries, Onslow College of Wellington won their heat in 8min 40.47s, Otago Girls High’s Harriet Thompson won heat five in 8:41.55; and Craighead Diocesan’s Elsie Talbot won heat four in 8:41.91.
The leading candidate for closest finish of the day came late on in the boys under 18 single scull when John McGlashan College’s Mark Smith pipped King’s College’s Jack Trusier by just .77s.
The boys under 16 coxed four battling to lift the Tauranga Boys College Cup, is also shaping up for a good contest later in the week.
Three Christchurch schools, St Bede’s, St Andrews and Christchurch Boys’ High, along with Auckland’s Mt Albert Grammar winning heats and covered by three seconds.
Similarly, there’s the look of a good contest looming in the under 17 girls coxed four, competing for the Trudi Keys Cup.
With heat winners only getting direct entry to the semifinals, Wellington Girls recorded 7:22.07 with Rangi Ruru and Marlborough Girls posting a pair of 7:24s.
Looking for a dominant performance? Try Takapuna Grammar’s Annabelle Knowles and Skye Lang, who won their heat in the under 18 double by a whopping 14 seconds.