Over the past week the Aon Maadi Cup rowing regatta was held at Lake Karapiro, Cambridge.

There were 131 schools and over 2000 athletes competing in the event. This alone meant that making an A or B final on the last 2 days racing was an outstanding achievement. 

Otago Boys' High School sent a team of 16 rowers and 2 coxwains to Maadi and made 7 A finals and 3 B finals.

All but 1 crew made either an A or B final and raced through to the last 2 days of competition. A crowd of 10,000 were in attendance at Lake Karapiro on Saturday 30th March for the last day of finals.

Congratulations to Ben Mason and Thomas Ryan, who were crowned NZ Champions in the Boys Under 18 Double Sculls event, racing home to gold ahead of St Peter's from Cambridge and Hauraki Plains College in bronze. The boys were awarded their gold medals by Robbie Manson, NZ's Eilte Single Sculler. Along with the medals Otago Boys' were awarded the Maurice Jones Cup.

A highlight for the boys prior to the medal presentation was Hamish Bond coming down to the waterfront to congratulate the boys and have a photo taken. Hamish is an old boy of Otago Boys' High School and a famous NZ rower.

Our other medal was a silver which was in the Boys Under 18 Coxed Quadruple Sculls event. The crew of Jack Webber, Ben Mason, Thomas Ryan and Edwin George (cox Jake Burgess) were only 2 seconds off the gold medal which was won by Christchurch Boys' High School. Whanganui Collegiate gained the bronze.

Other A finals results were:

Boys Under 18 Single Scull - Ben Mason. 4th in New Zealand. 49 scullers entered in this event.

Boys Under 16 coxed eight - Will Haley, Freddie Pankhurst, Reuben Cook, Ben Burrow, Louie Sabonadiere, Jacob Bolwell, Cody Campbell, Scott Alexander and coxwain Jake McClean 7th in New Zealand. 14 crews entered this event.

Boys Under 17 Single Scull - Peter Rowe - 8th in New Zealand (69 scullers entered in this event. The largest entry in the Aon Maadi Cup so a huge achievement to finish in the top 8).

Boys Under 16 coxed four - Will Haley, Jono Burnside, Reuben Cook, Freddie Pankhurst and coxwain Jake McClean, 8th in New Zealand. 27 crews entered in this event.

Boys Under 18 Double Sculls - Edwin George and Henry Wilson, 8th in New Zealand. 32 crews entered in this event.

B final results:

Boys Under 16 coxed four - Louie Sabonadiere, Scott Alexander, Ben Burrow, Antony Cowley and coxwain Jake Burgess - 8th in B final and 16th in New Zealand.

Boys Under 17 Double Scull - Jack Webber and Peter Rowe - 2nd in B final and 10th in New Zealand.

Boys Under 18 Single Scull - Henry Wilson - 6th in B final and 14th in New Zealand.

To top the regatta off, Ben Mason was announced as a NZ Junior Team Triallist to attend a trial being held at Lake Karapiro, starting on Sunday 14th April.

Jake McClean was also offered a South Island Under 18 trial as a coxwain and this trial will take place from Saturday 13th April at Lake Ruataniwha. Good luck to both men.

Now the team have a well earned rest and focus on other sports throughout the winter season. Thanks to the coaches, committee and parents who all kept the season running so smoothly.