Medal chances looking good

NATASHA MARTIN/Timaru Herald

FRESH FACES: The core of the Craighead squad for this year's Maadi Cup is under 16 years of age, meaning they could be a major rowing force in years to come.

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Craighead Diocesan School rowing squad has high hopes for a large medal tally at the Maadi Cup next week.

The team has 15 rowers and three coxes going to the highlight of national secondary school rowing.

Two will race in the under 18 age-group, and the rest will race in under 15 and under 16 races.

Mary Englebrecht and Erica Taylor seem to be the team's best chance of a gold medal in the under 15 double scull, but coach Dean Milne said he expected all the crews to perform well.

"We've had some really good results with the whole squad. This could be the most successful Maadi [Cup] we are heading into, based on our recent form.

"We are basically first or second in five races in the South Island, and having a look at the North Island times it looks like we will be there or thereabouts."

Milne said with the squad being so young, and the return of former pupil Sophie Gilchrist to help coach the team, the team could only get better.

"[Gilchrist] was probably one of our most successful rowers over the years.

"We are very lucky to have the depth in the squad this year that we haven't had in previous years.

"This year we have girls who are constantly pushing for seats, so the girls know a bad performance means that their seat's on the line."

The squad has had a relaxed approach this week, with only one session on the water.

Having trained twice a day, four days a week since September last year, most of the hard work is already done.

- © Fairfax NZ News