Drought can’t sink ambition
Some rowers preparing for the Maadi Regatta next week have found themselves high and dry on sand banks as Waikato River levels drop in the drought.
The drought that has left farmers and gardeners in despair has also increased competition between rowers vying for a smaller space in the Waikato River in the lead up to the Maadi Regatta next week.
With Hamilton and the wider region now in drought status Waikato River levels have dropped. Hamilton got 34mm of rainfall in the first two months of this year, and the lowest rainfall in February in 10 years. In the same period last year Hamilton had 223mm.
According to the Met Service there is still no sign of rain until Sunday.
With the national secondary school rowing competition, the Maadi Regatta, being held next week, teams are keen for last-minute training. The slow flow of the river is ideal for rowing, but crews from schools such as Dio, Girls High, Boys High, St John’s and Hillcrest must now compete for rowing territory in the narrow channel.
According to the Hillcrest High School rowing club chairman Pete Yeoman, several boats have been grounded on sand banks in areas that previously had no issues.
“To counter this, our programme takes our rowers to Lake Maraetai at Mangakino, to a dedicated rowing facility to allow for increased training and crew selections. We visit there three times a season, two weekends and a full week.”
Minor land slips of vegetation and trees have also caused navigation issues on the river.
“The rowers have adapted to the conditions and this has given us a fantastic result at the last regatta, The Mighty River Power Junior Regatta,” Mr Yeoman said.
Hillcrest are the first winners of the MRP Junior Regatta Points Trophy.
Saint John’s rowing spokesman Ross Tong says that the river level has had no effect on their training. “Everything has been going to plan and running smoothly which has been good.”
The water level in the Waikato River is not expected to have any significant effect on the Maadi Regatta at Lake Karapiro next week. The Karapiro dam keeps the level of the lake within a range that allows power generation, releasing and holding back water when needed.
