A team of 31 rowers and coxswains was selected to represent Christchurch Girls’ High School | Te Kura o Hine Waiora at the 2025 Maadi Nationals regatta, held from March 24th to 29th at Lake Karapiro, Cambridge.

The team flew to Auckland on Friday, March 21st, before traveling down to Te Awamutu, where Matariki Lodge would be their home for the next 10 days. The rowers quickly settled in, rigging boats, training on the lake, and familiarising themselves with the layout of the international racing course.

Racing Begins

Heats took place on Monday and Tuesday, with many races allowing only the top two finishers to progress directly to the A final. Those who missed out raced in repechages on Wednesday. By the end of Wednesday, all Christchurch Girls’ High School | Te Kura o Hine Waiora rowers had secured spots in either A or B

finals. A special mention goes to Marlie Ross, our only rower to compete in an U18 race, who finished 4th in her U18 singles heat. This required her to compete in a quarter-final and semi-final on Thursday, where she earned a place in the B final, finishing 8th making her 16th out of 53 rowers.

Finals Performance

As Friday and Saturday arrived, the team was ready for the finals. The rowers delivered outstanding performances, with results as follows:

● U17 Coxed Four - B Final

• 3rd place (11th in NZ): Sienna Cochrane, Tallulah Leggett, Summer Smith,

  Grier Bowman, coxed by Georgetta Haller

• 7th place (15th in NZ): Hadassah Timo, Emmerson Low, Abby Macpherson,

  Micah Timo, coxed by Greta Brokenshire

● U18 Novice Coxed Eight - A Final – 4th place (pipped at the line)

• Sophie Cleave, Izzy McLeod, Olive Cooper, Dylan McCoy, Issy Strachan,

  Georgia Brown, Ash Sheehan, Lola Wood, coxed by Lilly Shackleton

● U15 Coxed Four - A Final – 6th place

• Millie Parsons, Mia de Vries, Lily Irving, Sophie Keir, coxed by Georgetta Haller

● U16 Coxed Eight - A Final – 7th place

• Sofia Robertson, Emily Shearer, Micah Timo, Amelie Scrymgeour, Olive

  Cooper, Izzy McLeod, Sophie Cleave, Dylan McCoy, coxed by Greta Brokenshire

● U18 Single Sculls - B Final – 8th place

• Marlie Ross

● U17 Coxed Eight - A Final – 8th place

• Sienna Cochrane, Tallulah Leggett, Laura Ryall, Summer Smith, Sofia

  Robertson, Amelie Scrymgeour, Izzy Abley, Grier Bowman, coxed by Georgetta Haller

● U17 Coxless Pairs - B Final

• 2nd place (10th in NZ): Abby Macpherson, Grier Bowman

• 6th place (14th in NZ): Hadassah Timo, Emmerson Low

● U15 Coxed Eight - A Final – BRONZE

• Sophie Cleave, Emily Shearer, Olive Cooper, Micah Timo, Millie Parsons,

  Sophie Keir, Issy Strachan, Lola Wood, coxed by Sav Malhi

● U18 Novice Coxed Four - A Final

• SILVER: Millie Parsons, Lola Wood, Lily Irving, Mia de Vries, coxed by

  Georgetta Haller

• 8th place: Dylan McCoy, Georgia Brown, Ash Sheehan, Alice Bradshaw-

  Waugh, coxed by Lilly Shackleton

Special Highlights

Two memorable events included the coxswains' race, where our team came second (at the other end), showcasing plenty of laughter, caught blades, and some creative rowing by Sav Malhi, Greta Brokenshire, Lilly Shackleton, Georgetta Haller, and coxed by rower Izzy Abley.

Another highlight was Marlie Ross participating as CeeGee in the Mascot Dance-Off.

Closing Celebrations

The week concluded with a team dinner at Fahrenheit Restaurant in Te Awamutu, where rowers, parents, and coaches celebrated an incredible regatta. On Sunday, the team visited Butterfly Creek before their flight home.

Throughout the competition, the rowers represented CGHS with excellence, both on and off the water, making the school proud.

Acknowledgements

A huge thank you to Marc Brokenshire, Nikki Cochrane, Julie Olson, and Catherine

McDermott for their support in feeding and transporting the rowers throughout the week. A special thanks to our dedicated coaching team: Andrew Blake, Dave Hatton, Sophie Chapman, Grace Loveridge, and Jenna Ensil, whose hard work over the six-month season was instrumental in the team’s success.

Interested in Rowing?

If your child is interested in rowing, sign-ups will be available on Sporty at the end of Term 2 / start of Term 3, with notices posted accordingly. The rowing season runs from September to the end of March, with an approximate cost of $4,200. This fee covers six months of coaching (8–10 hours per week), entry fees for club regattas, transport, food, and accommodation for all regattas ( in Twizel) (excluding Maadi).

For further information, please contact Mrs. Catherine McDermott at mdc@cghs.school.nz