More Maadi gold for St Andrew's

The gold medal won by the U16 Girls' coxed eight at the 2024 Maadi Cup couldn’t have been a more fitting send off for Rector Christine Leighton, who was attending her final regatta supporting St Andrew’s crews before her retirement at the end of this year.

Racing at Lake Ruataniwha, in their recently named boat, Christine Leighton, the girls won St Andrew’s first ever national girls’ eight title, in a nailbiting final, which saw them pip Rangi Ruru Girls’ School and Waikato Diocesan School for Girls. It was a fantastic result for the young crew of Robbie Miller (Year 12) (cox), Lucia Apse, Katie Taggart, Alanna Brook, Chloe Lowe, Sayler Hedgcock (all Year 11), Abbie Hartstonge, Sophia Drury and Mollie Thomas (all Year 12), who had already been crowned South Island champions.

What has been described as an ‘epic’ 30 minutes for St Andrew’s U16 rowers had earlier kicked off with a win in the A final of the Boys' U16 coxed four, with Bradley Hughes, Kaelan Graham, William Currie (all Year 12), Oliver Barker (Year 11) and William Kamo (Year 13 – cox) claiming the College’s first gold of the regatta by a length over their opposition.

The Boys' U18 coxed four, put in a gutsy effort in the prestigious Springbok Shield event, finishing just behind Hamilton Boys’ High School. This was an outstanding result for Charles Butterfield, Jack Pitts, Jake Burrowes, Luke Skinner, and William Tavendale (all Year 13) who put in so much effort throughout the season. These five boys were joined by additional crew members, Logan Gardner, Benjamin Bolton, Thomas Heffernan, and Coby Goode (all Year 13) in the U18 coxed eight crew in the Maadi Cup final, the pinnacle of secondary schools’ rowing. Against very strong opposition, the crew put in a great effort to finish sixth.

Fourth placings by the Boys' U18 coxed squad featuring Logan Gardner, Benjamin Bolton, Thomas Heffernan, Coby Goode and William Tavendale, and the Boys' U16 coxed eight featuring Bradley Hughes, William Currie, Oliver Barker, Kaelan Graham, William Gilray (Year 11), Tadgh Molony, Hendrik Todhunter, Harry Pitts (all Year 11) and William Kamo (Year 13 – cox) were other highlights of the regatta.

A cocktail function hosted on the shores of the lake by the St Andrew’s rowing parents in conjunction with Rangi Ruru Girls’ School parents on the Thursday evening, was a great opportunity for parents from North Island schools to enjoy some South Island hospitality and mingle with Christchurch independent schools. The 400 strong crowd was delighted at performances by piper Jack Boon (Year 13), and Matthew Lee (Year 13) who did an impressive Address to a Haggis.

Overall, St Andrew’s crews made it to an impressive six A finals and eight B finals at Maadi Cup. On the back of the rowing squad’s outstanding effort during the season, Charles Butterfield and Jack Pitts were selected as New Zealand U19 team triallists, with Logan Gardner and William Tavendale selected as South Island U18 team triallists. Outgoing Director of Rowing, Guy Williams, was pleased with the students’ outstanding performances on the water. “I am extremely proud of the rowing team this season, which was full of disruptions and weather delays. Our Year 13 students have been amazing leaders, with the medals at Maadi Cup reflecting the efforts of the entire squad."

Maadi Cup A Final results:

• Robbie Miller (Year 12) (cox), Lucia Apse, Katie Taggart, Alanna Brook, Chloe Lowe, Sayler Hedgcock (all Year 11), Abbie Hartstonge, Sophia Drury and Mollie Thomas (all Year 12): gold in the U16 Girls' coxed eight;

• Bradley Hughes, Kaelan Graham, William Currie (all Year 12), Oliver Barker (Year 11) and William Kamo (Year 13 – cox): gold in U16 Boys' coxed four;

• Charles Butterfield, Jack Pitts, Jake Burrowes, Luke Skinner and William Tavendale (Year 13 – cox): silver in Boys' U18 coxed four (Springbok Shield);

• Charles Butterfield, Jack Pitts, Jake Burrowes, Luke Skinner, Logan Gardner, Coby Goode, Ben Bolton, William Long and William Tavendale (Year 13 – cox): sixth in Boys' 18 coxed eight (Maadi Cup);

• Logan Gardner, Benjamin Bolton, Tom Heffernan, Coby Goode and William Tavendale (Year 13 – cox): fourth in Boys' U18 coxed quadruple sculls;

• Bradley Hughes, William Currie, Oliver Barker, Kaelan Graham, William Gilray, Tadgh Molony, Hendrik Todhunter, Harry Pitts and Wiliam Kamo (Year 13 – cox): fourth Boys' U16 coxed eight.

A successful season for the rowing squad

South Island Secondary Schools’ Rowing Championships

The St Andrew’s rowing squad had a successful weekend in Twizel at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Rowing Championships. The squad handled the mixed conditions well, competing in 24 A finals, winning eight medals – five golds and three bronze. Both the Boys’ and Girls’ U16 coxed eight became South Island champions, with the girls beating strong St Margaret’s College, Rangi Ruru Girls’ School and Christchurch Girls’ High School crews to win by a length. This was the first St Andrew’s Girls’ eight to ever win a South Island Secondary Schools’ title.

The Boys' U16 coxed eight won in similar fashion, beating Christ’s College by three-quarters of a length with the Boys' U16 coxed four also winning gold. The Senior Boys’ squad became South Island Secondary School champions in both the U18 coxed four and U18 coxed eight. Bronze medals were won by Girls' U18 single sculler, Libby McNee (Year 13), the Girls' U16 coxed four and the Boys' U15 coxed eight.

With limited racing over the season, the St Andrew’s rowers left everything out on the water during this regatta, which was a great build up to the Maadi Cup.

Other regattas

A rowing camp in mid-January coincided with the Canterbury Rowing Championships held on Lake Ruataniwha. Unfortunately, the regatta was interrupted by wind. All three of the Girls’ U16 coxed quads made it through to the A final.

At the end of January, the novice squad spent time in Twizel without the company of the return rowers, who joined them on Friday 26 January to compete in the South Island Rowing Championships, one of three championship regattas during the season. The regatta was yet again affected by the wind, but the rowers got a full day of racing in on some nice water on the Sunday. The St Andrew’s team won three bronze medals, one silver and three gold medals, taking three South Island Club Championships titles.

The full St Andrew’s College rowing squad raced at the Christchurch Schools’ Head of the River at Kerrs Reach. With a lot of racing abandoned this season, this regatta was pivotal. There were several strong results throughout the one-day event, starting with the novice/return rower 50/50 boats. Both the boys’ and girls’ crews had strong wins and the senior rowers had some tight racing. The Girls’ U18 quad had a close race with Cashmere High School, eventually finishing in second place. Both Boys’ U18 fours had strong performances, winning their races, as well as the Boys’ U18 quad. The Boys’ U18 coxed eight had another close race with Christchurch Boys’ High School and lost by half a boat length.