Maadi Cup winners unite after 20 years
The Christ College 1993 Maadi cup winners have reunited after 20 years to reminisce over old times and cheer on their former college.
Twenty years since winning at Maadi the Christ College eights have returned to Karapiro with the lightweight four who won gold.
The reunion has been a big deal for the rowing squads with seven of the eight attending and all of the lightweight four. Two of the eight have travelled from London.
The reunion coincides with the Centenary of Rowing at Christ College.
The Christ College eight were the only South Island crew in the winning race back in 1993.
Hamish Jenkins, who rowed in the third seat on the bow side in the eight, has said that his favourite memory from rowing was definitely winning the Maadi Cup.
“The noise in the last 500 metres, the adrenalin, the elation crossing the line, it made all that hard work worthwhile”
The teams are meeting at Karapiro and attending a reunion dinner tomorrow evening.They have kept their 1993 rowing blazers and will wear them when they reminisce about old times.
The two teams hope to row tomorrow at midday. They will also be cheering their teams on in the final.
When asked about the comparisons between rowing today and 20 years ago, Hamish said there have been two significant changes. The results at national level have meant that there has been an increased interest in the sport and the number of different schools attending Maadi has grown remarkably.
Many of the former members have stayed involved in rowing since their win in 1993. Number four of the eight Hamish Bell said he is a manager of rowing at St Andrews and number seven James Armitage has coached in both the UK and New Zealand.
