Coxes turned rowers set school apart

It’s unusual enough for a cox to convert to rowing. It’s more unusual when it happens twice in the same school. What gives the St Peters College Maadi story its final kicker is that the two boys involved share the same last name – but are unrelated.

Auckland-based Saint Peters College rowing team has  two team members who share the same surname,  age,  and background.

The Sheehan boys are the best of friends and, through rowing, share more than just a surname.

The boys explain they are “brothers from another mother” (a phrase used to show  brotherhood), who were both coxes who converted to rowing as they bulked up.

Both Sheehans share the same story. The boys don’t have any family connection but they both joined the college team as coxes. Now they have both become rowers for the same team, though in different boats.

Novice rower Benedict said he had been coxing for three years.

“I joined the team when I was 15. For the last three years, I have been doing coxing for the team, and this is my first season as a rower. So, I never rowed before and had to learn how to row.  It’s  rare when a cox turns becomes a rower.”

Benedict admitted he had found the conversion tough.

“I am in my final school year but before this Maadi Cup we never got the chance to row with each other. Rowing is harder than coxing. It’s harder than I expected. I still love coxing. Coxing was my thing because I didn’t have to work so hard. I just preferred to talk to the boys and tell them to pull. I enjoyed the thrill and stress of it.”

Connor converted to rowing in 2018 and  Benedict did it this year.