Seven of our Waitaki Girls’ rowers have worked hard throughout the season, and this hard work was rewarded by selection to attend Maadi Cup in Lake Karapiro, Cambridge. This is the largest sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere and involved over 2000 high school athletes.

There was a lot of work and time put in before the crews even left, with a school Maadi Banner produced and a Maadi Breakfast for families and supporters, along with the Principals from the three schools.

Our girls travelled via Auckland with rowers from Waitaki Boys’ High School and St Kevins’ College.

The school parade was a highlight and an opportunity to show off all of the work on the banner.

Then over the course of 4 days, our rowers were involved in heats and repechages. Some real grit and determination were shown by our girls, and they really lived our Waitaki Way values. Then came the finals.

Fantastic results from our small crew.

Results

Under 17 single sculls: Emma Spittle 4th in the A final - 4th in New Zealand - a very close race.

U16 coxed quad sculls - Kyala Fisilau, Sophie Spittle, Sophie Rohrbach, Kalani Fisilau and Sophie Brown - 7th in the B final - top 15 in New Zealand.

U16 Coxed 4 - Kyala Fisilau, Sophie Spittle, Sophie Rohrbach, Molly O'Sullivan and Sophie Brown - their heat meat they went straight to the A final - 7th in New Zealand

U17 Double sculls: Kyala Fisilau and Emma Spittle - won the B final! 9th in New Zealand.

We would not be so competitive without a lot of time and energy from the Coaches; thank you to Ivan Dougherty, Damien Goodsir and Tracey Marshall - the time and commitment from them is second to none! Thanks also to all of the support from parents.

Highlights

Thanks to ex-Waitakians Craig and Hannah Newlands, our rowers were able to spend the evening with Eric Murray, Olympic Gold medalist and Lucy Spoors - Olympic silver medalist and world champ in the woman’s 8 - great inspiration.

After all of the excitement, the week was topped off by Emma Spittle being named in the South Island Under 18 trial squad for New Zealand rowing - so the training continues!