Three generations at Lake Karapiro

Kath Scully crossed the ditch to watch her grandson row at the Maadi Cup at Lake Karapiro.

Proud grandmother Kath Scully (left) with grandson Alex Andersen and daughter-in-law Erin Andersen at Maadi. Photo: Bridget Kelly

There are a lot of people at the 2017 Maadi Cup from all over New Zealand, but how many are from Australia?

Kath Scully travelled to Lake Karapiro from Malanda in Australia to watch her grandson race.

Maadi could not come at a better time for Scully. Not only does she get to watch her grandson Alex Andersen compete in the national rowing regatta, she also spends her 70th birthday with her family.

“I live in Australia but I was born here and I come over for my birthdays occasionally.”

Alex is competing in the boy under 16 coxed quad sculls, under 16 double sculls and the under 17 coxed quad sculls for Hamilton school St John’s College, with enthusiastic support from both his grandmother and his mother, Erin Andersen.

He is in the final of the under 16 coxed quad sculls after getting fifth in the heat, second in the repechage and first in the semi-final. He has two more semis today which a “very proud” Scully hopes will turn into two more finals.

This is a result of months of training on the Waikato River.

“It’s great when you live somewhere where you can do the rowing,” Scully said.