Kaiapoi High School had a squad of nine female rowers entered in the South Island Secondary Schools' Rowing Championships at Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel.

This squad rows with Rangiora High School rowers during the summer season in combined Cure Boating Club boats, separating into the two school crews for this schools’ regatta.

The squad consisted of four second year rowers and five novice rowers. Our second year rowers were Beth Dunbar (Yr 10), Tyla Smart (Yr 11) and Neve Sinclair (Yr 10), and were coxed by Madi Broadley (Yr 11). They were joined in their Quad (two oars each) and their Four (one oar each) boats by a novice rower, Amy Reddish (Yr 11). Beth and Tyla also rowed an uncoxed Double. The Second Years made the A Finals for the three events that they entered, meaning they finished within the top eight in the South Island. They achieved sixth place in both the U15 Quad and U15 Four, and were fifth in the U15 Double. 

The remaining novice squad consisted of Sasha Henley (Yr 11), Alyssa McCartin (Yr 11), Keely Tasker (Yr 10) and Maia Tuilaepa (Yr 11) . They were again coxed by Madi Broadley. The novices raced in heats for Novice Quad and Novice Four events. It was fantastic to see this young squad in action, with the girls coming off a successful South Island Club Championship regatta on the weekend of 2-3 February. As a combined Cure squad, with Rangiora High School, Beth, Neve, Tyla and Madi gained silver and bronze medals in Four and Eight boats, with Amy and Keely also gaining bronze in an Eight boat. 

As the teacher who travelled in support of the team, I would like to thank Armin Svoboda and Regan Southon of the Cure Boating Club for their tireless efforts in coaching both the Kaiapoi and Rangiora High Schools’ squads. Thanks also to the Cure Boating Club for the provision of boats and for the organisation, along with parents, that goes into arranging entries, accommodation, transport and food for each regatta.

Vicki Young

Junior Squad – from bow: Maia Tuilaepa, Keely Tasker, Alyssa McCartin, Sasha Henley, Madi Broadley (coxswain).

Second Year Squad – from bow: Amy Reddish, Tyla Smart, Beth Dunbar, Neve Sinclair, Madi Broadley (coxswain).