Young rowers give muffins the taste test

PETER DRURY/ Waikato Times

MUFFIN BREAK: Maadi Cup rowers Robert McCaig, left, and Sam Burrows sample nutritious pre-race muffins.

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Massey University showed they will stop at muffins to recruit young rowers as prospective students.

When the Maadi Cup regatta started this morning at Lake Karapiro, the teenage competitors were tempted by the scent of freshly-baked muffins at the tertiary institute's marquee on the banks of the Waikato River.

Countdown Cambridge baked 1000 muffins this morning for Massey's recruitment drive as more than 1950 rowers converged for the national secondary schools rowing regatta.

Jasmine Thomson, working on a PhD at Massey University on human nutrition and specialising in sports nutrition, said each muffin, baked with fish oil, contained an athlete's daily requirement for Omega 3. "And they don't smell fishy," she said.

Hamilton Boys' High 17-year-old rowers Sam Burrows and Robert McCaig involved in pairs racing this morning, as well as the fours and eights gave the muffins the taste test.

"They're pretty good," the young rowers agreed.

Nearly 400 races across 42 events will be contested by rowers from 106 schools in what looms as the biggest rowing regatta in New Zealand since the 1978 world championships at Lake Karapiro. The event started today and ends on Saturday with the Maadi Cup final for boys under-18 eights crews.

THE EVENT

New Zealand Secondary Schools national rowing regatta at Lake Karapiro today until Saturday 42 events, including 400 races. 106 schools and 1950 students taking part. Glamour event: Boys under-18 eights. Results are regularly updated and available on the website www.maadi.co.nz

- © Fairfax NZ News