Cambridge High rowers increase chances for Maadi Regatta
With both their double sculls senior teams winning their events at the North Island champs, resurgent Cambridge High hopes to do well at the Maadi Regatta later this week.
Cambridge High School rowers have high hopes for the upcoming Maadi Regatta after winning a number of races over the weekend in the North Island champs.
Both under 18 double sculls teams came in first, with the boys taking out the A final and the girls winning the B final.
The rowers have been training hard for six months, and their ranks have increased by 50 percent from 40 athletes to 60.
Coach Selwyn Cleland said their rise in numbers gave them an advantage among tough competition.
“A few years ago Boys High were right up there. St Peters have been the top ranked school in sculling. We’re just on the resurgence at the moment. But these last couple of years everyone’s been taking a little piece of the pie, so this year it could be anyone.”
Cleland says their older students have worked hard to win first place at the North Island champs and are aiming for gold in the Maadi Regatta.
“With the under 17 and under 18 group our goal has been to get some medals, to hit those A finals and get some results out of it too.”
The added athletes have increased their odds in the competition but added cost as the school is unable to fully fund rowers.
“Having those extra numbers puts pressure on because we have to borrow each other’s gear, get extra coaching and staff, plus everyone volunteers around here so they’ve got to take time off work and that. But everyone’s pulling together and we’ve got a great team of athletes and coaches so there’s lots of dedication, from parents as well,” Cleland said.
Cambridge High parents volunteer in fundraising and organising food and transportation for the regattas.
“There’s a massive amount happening with parents, they’re definitely very supportive of the rowing.”
This year’s rowers needed to have made the A or B finals in order to compete in the Maadi Regatta beginning March 18.
“It’s a bit of a pinnacle event for the secondary school rowing. We’ve actually got about 30 students going to Maadi so that’s a big number for us.”
Cleland attributes top ranking St Peter’s rowers as being a good comparison to judge how their preparations for Maadi are going since the two schools practise alongside each other.
“It’s quite cool having them right next to us, we sort of use them as a bit of a bench mark. But our rowers have been very dedicated so we have high expectations for them.”
