Waitaki Girls' Rowing has started the season off strong with lots of new novices coming through, and we are now one of the biggest schools within the Oamaru Rowing Club. On the 30-31st of January we had many girls competing at the South Island Club Champs under Oamaru Rowing Club colours, meaning we have some combined boats with rowers from St Kevin’s. Here are some of the Waitaki Girls' results:

Girls U15 double - Emma Spittle - 4th - A final

Girls U15 eight - Neve Ramsey, Zoe Isbister, Emma Spittle, Brooke Taylor, Rianna Sheppard and Quinn Plunkett (cox) - 4th - A final

Novice Four - Neve Ramsey, Harriet Melton, Elisha Carter, Zoe Isbister and Sahara Geary (cox) - 9th - A final

Novice Four - Kayla Hay, Brooke Taylor - 8th - Heat

Novice Eight - Neve Ramsey, Harriet Melton, Zoe Isbister, Brooke Taylor, Elisha Carter, Rihanna Sheppard and Sahara Geary (cox) - 7th - A final

U19 Eight - Lily Rawson, Abbey Wilson, Bailey Chapman, Sophie McMillian-Sinclair and Quinn Plunkett (cox) - 4th - A final

Lily Rawson, Abbey Wilson, Bailey Chapman, Sophie McMillian-Sinclair and Sahara Geary (cox) then raced in the club eight and came out with a bronze medal which is an amazing achievement considering they are only intermediate grade rowers. They then went into their intermediate four with Quinn Plunkett as cox and got bronze again with only one second separating the top three. All the girls are now preparing for the New Zealand National Rowing Champs next week being held in Twizel where clubs from all over New Zealand will be competing. Wishing all the Waitaki rowers the best of luck!