Following the last rowing season being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic making its way into the nation, the HBHS Rowing Squad set out in early August on the familiar waters of the Waikato River to make the upcoming season the best one possible. To compensate for the lack of a Maadi regatta last season the squad made sure to start the season strong with on-water training and erg tests which became more frequent over time. Our first week long camp at Lake Maraetai in Mangakino occurred in October where the group of eighty trained for a week, forming their skills and building fitness, getting ready for the first regatta of the season at Lake Karapiro.

After the camp, we returned to our home ground, the Waikato River once again to train for the next few months. We raced at the early-season regattas, trained on the river and had the occasional row on Lake Karapiro or Lake Maraetai. Months passed and we found ourselves getting stronger, fitter, faster and before we knew it we were at the Christmas regatta. Following that, the squad was disbanded over the holidays to do our intense, individual training before coming back together in early January to complete the infamous 2000 metre erg test.

With erg scores in, it was time to select the crews. Through a number of sets of seat racing taking place over multiple days back again in Mangakino, the Senior squads were formed with the Junior squad having their crews selected based off of erg scores and coaches estimations. Crews were formed and the first cracks of quality rowing shining through meant it was time to tackle our opponents at the first major regattas for the season.

Introducing the North Island Club Champs. Usually, the regattas that the squad races at are filled with high school-aged only rowers. However, this one includes rowers from clubs, outside of school ages, making it the greatest challenge of the season at that point. Regardless, the squad proved themselves on the racecourse and conquered their opponents with the entire programme walking away with 5 golds, 4 silvers and 1 bronze. With the last major regattas of the season approaching we once again returned to training, only this time with more determination to prove ourselves burning inside of us.

The last training rows for the season are where we kick into overdrive. Rows are longer, more intense and more frequent, coaches expect nothing below the absolute best and most importantly, the goals that we set at the start of the season were creeping up on us. This section of the season would be the decider of whether or not we would be successful at the Maadi Cup.

North Island Secondary Schools was the toughest regatta of the season thus far. The entirety of the North Island rowing schools were racing here, proving a competitive nature and a good challenge. Over the two days out at Lake Karapiro, our boys were able to race hard and fast, unfortunately, the official finals day could not go underway due to unforeseen circumstances.  However, based on race times our boys were able to bring home 5 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal.

Only a few weeks later, the Maadi Cup Regatta had arrived. This was the last regatta of the season and it was time to show the results of hundreds of dedicated hours of training out on the racecourse. The first few days of the heats flew by and before we knew it, the two days of finals had come around. We had raced well in the previous days but we knew that both Junior and Senior competition were strong. Over the two day period we raced 12 A finals and came away with 4 gold and 2 bronze medals. This was the end of the season.

I congratulate all of the boys that participated this season and for their unmatched dedication and hard work. I would like to give a huge thanks to Mrs Hassall, Mr and Mrs Ross, all of the coaches, all the families that made this season happen and our sponsors; Mainfreight, Lodge Real Estate, The Property Group, Schick Civil Construction, and Waikato Ssangyong. The season would not have been possible without you all.

By Adam Wilson

Captain of Rowing

New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships Results:

🥇 Under 17 Eight:  Gold

William Mackintosh, Ethan Johnson, Adam Wilson, Daniel Humphrey, Toby Smith, Logan Jenner, Josh Syme, Lucas Cooke and Oliver Duncan (cox)

🥇 Under 15 Octuple Sculls:  Gold

Rhys Laker, Dylan Worthington, Josh Wickers, William Milne, Caleb Valler, Dylan McConnell, Boaz King, Kellan Fleming and Cameron Natta (cox)

🥉 Under 15 Eight (Crew 1):  Bronze

Rhys Laker, Dylan Worthington, Josh Wickers, William Milne, Caleb Valler, Dylan McConnell, Boaz King, Kellan Fleming and Cameron Natta (cox)

🥇 Under 17 Four:  Gold

William Mackintosh, Ethan Johnson, Adam Wilson, Daniel Humphrey and Oliver Duncan (cox)

🥇 Novice Four:  Gold

Rhys Laker, Dylan McConnell, Fynley Berkers, Kellan Fleming and Alex Cooper (cox)

🥉 Under 16 Eight:   Bronze 

Josh Syme, William Milne, Johno O’Brien, Xavier Scarlett, Tyrone Urbancic, Dylan Worthington, Tama Merrilees, Lucas Cooke and Jamie Zyza (cox)

North Island Secondary Schools Championship Results:

🥉 Under 15 Eight:  Bronze

Rhys Laker, Dylan Worthington, Josh Wickers, William Milne, Caleb Valler, Dylan McConnell, Boaz King, Kellan Fleming and Cameron Natta (cox)

🥈 Under 18 Eight:  Silver

William Mackintosh, Ethan Johnson, Adam Wilson, Alex Pollock, Seamus Foley, Daniel Humphrey, Toby Smith, Charlie Mackintosh and Oliver Duncan (cox)

🥇 Under 15 Octuple Sculls: Gold

Rhys Laker, Dylan Worthington, Josh Wickers, William Milne, Caleb Valler, Dylan McConnell, Boaz King, Kellan Fleming and Cameron Natta (cox)

🥇 Under 16 Eight:  Gold

Josh Syme, William Milne, Johno O’Brien, Xavier Scarlett, Tyrone Urbancic, Dylan Worthington, Tama Merrilees, Lucas Cooke and Jamie Zyza (cox)

🥇 Under 17 Eight:  Gold

William Mackintosh, Ethan Johnson, Adam Wilson, Daniel Humphrey, Toby Smith, Logan Jenner, Josh Syme, Lucas Cooke and Oliver Duncan (cox)

🥇 Under 17 Four:  Gold

William Mackintosh, Ethan Johnson, Adam Wilson, Daniel Humphrey and Oliver Duncan (cox)

🥇 Novice Four:  Gold

Rhys Laker, Dylan McConnell, Fynley Berkers, Kellan Fleming and Alex Cooper (cox)

North Island Club Championships Results:

🥉 Under 15 Eight (Crew 2):  Bronze

Rhys Laker, Kellan Fleming, Caleb Valler, Shae Asiata, Jack Paterson, Dylan McConnell, Fynley Berkers, Seth Davis and Sean Witters (cox)

🥈 Under 15 Eight (Crew 1):  Silver

Lachlan Douglas, Dylan Worthington, Joshua Wickers, William Milne, Jesse Humberstone-Kara, Cole Sammons, Ryan Pamment, Deacon Brill and Oliver Duncan (cox)

🥇 Under 15 Octuple:  Gold

Josh Wickers, Dylan Worthington, William Milne, Jesse Humberstone-Kara, Cole Sammons, Deacon Brill, Ryan Pamment, Lachlan Douglas and Aaron O'Regan (cox)

🥇 Under 15 Four:  Gold

Josh Wickers, Dylan Worthington, Caleb Valler, William Milne and Cameron Natta (cox)

🥈 Under 16 Eight:  Silver

Josh Syme, Lucas Cooke, Tama Merrilees, Ashton Kennedy, Johno O'Brien, Xavier Scarlett, Tyrone Urbancic, Jameel Khan and Aaron O'Regan (cox)

🥈 Under 16 Four:  Silver

Josh Syme, Xavier Scarlett, Johno O'Brien, Lucas Cooke and Alex Cooper (cox)

🥇 Under 17 Eight:  Gold

William Mackintosh, Ethan Johnson, Adam Wilson, Daniel Humphrey, Toby Smith, Logan Jenner, Johno O'Brien, Lucas Cooke and Oliver Duncan (cox)

🥇 Under 17 Four:  Gold

William Mackintosh, Ethan Johnson, Adam Wilson, Daniel Humphrey and Oliver Duncan (cox)

🥇 Under 18 Novice Eight:  Gold

Rhys Laker, Kellan Fleming, Caleb Valler, Shae Asiata, Jack Paterson, Dylan McConnell, Fynley Berkers, Seth Davis and Sean Witters (cox)

🥈 Under 18 Eight:  Silver

William Mackintosh, Ethan Johnson, Adam Wilson, Alex Pollock, Seamus Foley, Regan Joyce, Toby Smith, Charlie Mackintosh and Oliver Duncan (cox)