High hopes held in Maadi Cup

There has arguably never been a better prepared squad of Marlborough college rowers than those who departed today for the annual Aon Maadi Cup secondary schools regatta which starts at Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel on Monday.

A 35-strong squad from Marlborough Boys' College, out of the Blenheim Rowing Club and twice the size of last season's group, has been preparing all summer for this one, training twice a day most days of the week.

Judging by results from recent leadup regattas, several crews are on course to mount serious medal challenges but, as head coach Bill Campbell stressed, there are plenty of good North Island crews to contend with.

MBC's preparation suffered a setback when Harry Taylor, a key member of the squad, suffered a bad ankle injury when struck by a falling tree last week. His coxed quad was a genuine medal prospect, but Campbell is confident his replacement, Harrison Somerville, will step up alongside the other crew members Tom Murray, Ryan Wilson, Corey McCaffrey and coxswain Mitch MacDonald.

The under-16 double scull crew is still to be finalised since Taylor's injury, but will come from Murray, McCaffrey or Wilson.

Stefan Meaclem is a real hope in the under-18 single scull after winning the recent South Island secondary school champs. He'll team up with Elliott Harvey in the under-18 pair and again they are real medal prospects, although Campbell stressed that they had yet to be fully tested this season.

The under-17 quad rowed below expectations at the South Island regatta, but that could partly be blamed on a very heavy training workload and the coach is confident they will be on song next week. That crew comprises Rutger Maasdam, Harvey, Ben Black, Liam Beattie and cox MacDonald.

One crew that has made every post a winner this year is the under-18 novice four of Callum Streeter, Guy Young, Nick Henry, Keagen Saul and cox Hayden Nicholls. They won gold at the club nationals and have continued on their winning way in subsequent regattas.

Pim Greven in the under-17 single is a strong prospect as is the under-15 eight comprising Marcus Henry, Connor Irving, Mitch Avery, Max Bicknell, Piers Dashfield, Abe Rood, Hayden Beavis, Hugo Smith and cox Kyle Walters.

Campbell said that winning medals at this event was very important to maintain the momentum the sport has gained at the college over the last 12 months. His ultimate aim is to win the Maadi under-18 eight next year.

Marlborough Girls' College head coach Dave Williamson is quietly confident his squad can bring home some precious metal. Heading the prospects are Georgia Hammond and Sophie Mackenzie in the under-18 double and pair, plus the under-18 quad and coxed four comprising the above two plus Lauren McCartney, Phoebe Newsham and cox Hannah Sloan.

The novice four has rowed well recently, the crew comprising Senja McCloy, Bailey Parata, Olivia Dekka, Nicole Hawkins and cox Sophie Bush.

Others in contention are the under-18 lightweight four of Newsham, Ruby and Meg McIntosh, Nicole McAlpine and cox Sloan plus the under-16 coxed four of Kristen Meaclem, Maddi Davies, Hannah Hocquard, Josifien Maasdam and cox Sonia Ginders.

Williamson said: "We've had six months of hard slog and dedication back and forth to regattas. Been to Twizel three times already this season, so they are certainly fit and they've worked hard as a group. Probably the strongest group right through the ranks that I've had.

"I'd like to think that all of them would come back with a medal and certainly expect them all to make an A final."

More than 10,000 spectators are expected at Lake Ruataniwha on finals days next Friday and Saturday with about 1880 rowers from 114 schools competing in 400 races.

The Marlborough Express rowing reporter John Alexander and photographer Scott Hammond will be at Lake Ruataniwha next week.

- The Marlborough Express