Southland crews head north

New Zealand rowing's success at last year's Beijing Olympics may have already created some positive spinoffs for the sport.

The annual New Zealand secondary schools rowing championships is regarded as one of the biggest sporting events at school level in the southern hemisphere.

A whopping 2260 school rowers will converge on Lake Karapiro near Cambridge next week, up on the already impressive 1950 competitors at last year's regatta in Twizel.

New Zealand and Southland rowing official John O'Connor said the increase in numbers was encouraging for the sport and he hoped it may have been partly as a result of the increased exposure recently from the Olympics.

James Hargest College will send the biggest contingent of Southland rowers, with 20, while Southland Girls' High School is sending seven and Verdon College two.

Many of the James Hargest rowers loom as medal contenders following a successful showing at the South Island secondary school championships. James Hargest College won 12 medals at the event in Twizel.

Among the leading Southland medal contenders is the James Hargest under-17 quad of Ollie Behrent, Hayden Cohen, Toby Pascoe and James Lilley.

The four are also expected to be competitive in the doubles and singles racing.

Lisa Owen is another potential medallist in the under-18 girls singles, as is the under-16 coxed quad of Brittany Allan, Katelyn Froude, Tessa Young, Lauren Buckeridge and Bryony Bunting.

The Southland Girls' High School under-15 coxed quad of Morgan Shepherd, Kate Dunlevey, Jessica Hayes, Bridget Corkery and Olivia Capil have been making good improvements recently and were placed fifth at the South Island championships.

Jessica van Rossum and Bailey McCulloch will fly the Verdon College flag at the meet, with the two competing in the under-17 double scull.

They won the B final at the South Island meet.

The national secondary schools championships start on Monday, with finals on Friday, while Saturday's racing will be screened live on television.

Sky TV is using the event as a trial for when they broadcast the world rowing championships at Lake Karapiro next year.

logan.savory@stl.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News