Sisters unite for rowing glory

NATASHA MARTIN/Timaru Herald

FAMILY AFFAIR: Timaru Girls' High School will be hoping three sets of sisters can lead them to some top three finishes at the Maadi Cup next week. They are from left; Ashleigh Day, Olivia Burtenshaw, Hannah Day, Kate Chamberlain, Emily Burtenshaw and Abby Chamberlain.

It will be a sister act for Timaru Girls' High School, as they launch their bid for Maadi Cup rowing success.

The 15-strong team, including three cox has three sets of sisters, who will head to Lake Ruataniwha for the pinnacle regatta in secondary school rowing next week.

Abby and Kate Chamberlain, Emily and Olivia Burtenshaw, as well as Ashleigh and Hannah Day will be looking for medals, following some strong early season form, especially at the South Island championships.

Ashleigh, and Kate will compete in the under-16 age-group, Abby and Emily in the under-17 age-group and Olivia will be in the under 15 and under 16 age-group, while Hannah will cox several crews.

Adding to the team's medal prospects will be four new boats purchased for the championships.

Team manager Kim Burtenshaw said the double, single and two quad boats were needed if TGHS were going to win medals.

"We've been raising funds for the past three years. A lot of our boats were actually quite old and needed replacing."

Burtenshaw said the team would be focusing its efforts on the double and quads, but expected good performances from all the crews.

"We've set some pretty tough targets to get the girls to prove themselves. It's not a case of if you are rowing then you can go to Maadi. We have a really enthusiastic team, and really good team morale, which makes things a lot easier."

Despite having six in the squad competing at their first Maadi Cup, Burtenshaw said the team would remain focused on their tasks, even with the imposing atmosphere the event can have on new rowers.

"This is what they've been training for since the start of the season, so its not that hard to keep them focused because they all want to do as well as they can."

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