For the first time in eight years, STC students stood on the podium at the National Secondary Schools Rowing Championships. 

12 young men represented the school across 8 events this year with every crew making finals. After a successful couple of days through heats and repecharges we qualified one crew into a 'D' final, two crews into 'C' finals and the remainder into semi finals, where crews finishing in the top four from each semi progress to 'A' finals, and the bottom four heading to 'B' Finals on Saturday. On semis day, the boys all raced well with four crews narrowly missing out and instead heading to 'B' finals. Three of those crews came 5th, meaning they missed out by just one place.

Two of our under 18 crews, however, made it into the big event on Saturday. First up, the boys under 18 Quad finished a very respectable 8th in the country in one of the premier events of the regatta. Their achievement earns them a top 10 badge from New Zealand Rowing.

Racing out of the slowest qualifying lane, Ben Scarlett and Logan Anderson flew out to an amazing start in their 'A' final of the boys under 18 double. Not known for fast finishes, the boys knew they needed to start well and by 500 metres into the 2000 meter race they sat in 2nd place. With St Kentigern College out in front, the STC men led the chasing pack down the course and were still there with 250 meters to go. The boys had obviously given everything they had and by the final few strokes were holding on with every last drop of energy. Wanganui Collegiate managed to pass them just on the line but the rest of the field didn't have the heart to match these two legends of STC rowing!

Fantastic to see a good group of old boys, parents and family make the trip to Twizel to support the boys, and this had a major part in inspiring this superb performance. Congratulations to the coaching team of Pat McQuinn, and old boys, Daniel Ryan, James Beattie, William Beattie and Tobi Sunter, for countless hours working with the boys this summer.

Results from the week:Under 16 Single - Jack Clinton - 5th in D final (29th in NZ)Under 16 Quad - Dylan Bargh, Jack Clinton, Cameron Anisy, William Topham and Ben Wright - 4th in C final (20th in NZ)Under 17 Double - Josh Kelly and Johvaan Renata - 4th in C final (20th in NZ)Under 18 Single - Logan Anderson - 6th in B final (14th in NZ)Under 16 Double - Josh Dent and William Topham - 3rd in B final (11th in NZ)Under 16 Single - Josh Dent - 3rd in B final (11th in NZ)Under 17 Quad - Josh Kelly, Jack Hurley, Johvaan Renata, Josh Dent and Ben Wright - 1st in B final (9th in NZ)Under 18 Quad - Logan Anderson, Jack Hurley, Ben Scarlett, Ethan Bargh and Ben Wright - 8th in A final (8th in NZ)Under 18 Double - Logan Anderson and Ben Scarlett - 3rd in A final (3rd in NZ!!!)
If you are interested in rowing next season, please contact Robbie Lange at rlange@stc.school.nz for more information. Keep an eye out for information about the upcoming open day as well.