Travelling Tauranga Boys’ on road to success
Tauranga Boys’ College is commuting over the Kaimai Range each day to compete at Maadi.
Tauranga Boys’ College has brought 35 rowers and five coaches to the Maadi Regatta, undeterred by daily 50-minute trips to and from Lake Karapiro.
Three mini-vans and a team of parents transport the boys, who are used to doing shuttle runs for local regattas.
Teacher in charge of rowing, Richard van Dijk, said it would have been ideal to find local accommodation.
“We couldn’t find anywhere that was within half an hour and we figured, well, for another 20 minutes we’re home.”
This way, the boys get to sleep in their own beds, and organise their own nutrition.
There is a barbecue trailer behind the college’s tent at Karapiro, but Van Dijk said it was just for the supporters.
“We’ve been packed here all day.”
The first two days produced good results for Tauranga Boys’ College.
“They’ve shown a lot of promise this season, and I’m really hoping to build to success,” said van Dijk.
“It’s very tough competition out there. We would like to come away with a few medals, but on the day we will see how that goes.”
Highlights of the heats so far are in the U18s: first in the quads, single, double, lightweight double, and a third in the pair.
A younger crew also won their U15 four heat.
Competition was particularly tough at the U18 level, for the Maadi Cup itself.
The Tauranga Boys’ U18 eight placed third in their heat on Tuesday, behind two major competitors: Hamilton Boys’ and Auckland Grammar.
But the competitors are not the only ones facing long days.
Teachers and coaches are also putting in the hours.
On Monday, the first van of rowers left Tauranga at 6.30am, and the last got back at 8pm.
Van Dijk spent his birthday at Lake Karapiro, although he was serenaded by some of his younger rowers.
Among them was 14-year-old Daniel Tomlinson.
About half of Tauranga Boys’ rowers have been to the Maadi Regatta before, but Daniel is one of the first-timers.
Two days in, he has rowed in heats for the U15 quad, U15 four, and a heat and repechage for the U16 quad.
Aside from the racing, there was plenty to enjoy: “Watching some of the heats, seeing the talent… oh, people falling out of boats – always a highlight.”
With his racing action over, he will spend the rest of the week helping the other crews, cheering them on, and re-rigging the boats for different combinations.
