The Cromwell Rowing Club had a very successful weekend at the South Island Secondary Schools Rowing Championships, held at Lake Ruataniwha on 11 – 13 March.
A squad of 15 rowers from Cromwell College attended the regatta and made it through to four A finals and nine B finals.
Mathew King who has competed strongly all year, won Bronze in the boys under 17 single sculls and then backed it up with an excellent row in the under 18 single sculls to place 5th.
Mat then teamed up with Harrison Mills to win the B final of the boys under 17 double sculls and Harrison placed 2nd in the B final of the boys under 16 single sculls.
Olivia Piebenga and Greer Ferguson timed their run perfectly to win a Bronze medal in the final of the girls under 17 double sculls.
Olivia and Greer then teamed up with Kate Spriggs, Hannah Dicey and coxswain Kaylee Butler to place 7th in the A final of the girls under 17 coxed quad.
Olivia also placed 3rd in the B final of the girls under 17 single sculls.
Kaylee Butler had a strong row in the B final of the girls under 16 single sculls and placed 7th.
The novice rowing squad also did well, with the crew of Ayala Cunningham, Amelia Dickey, Tori Sarginson and Alyssa Wilson, coxed by Elizabeth Engstrom placing 3rd in the B final of the girls under 15 quad sculls. Amelia then partnered with Rebecca Thomson to place 6th in the B final of the girls under 15 double sculls.
With so many sports having been impacted by COVID19 the Cromwell Rowing Club is very grateful to the South Island Rowing Association for being proactive and planning ahead, to ensure these regattas have been able to continue.
Strict health and safety requirements have been implemented, requiring clubs to remain in lakeside zones of a maximum of 100 people.
Whilst this is the end of a successful first season for the junior squad, the senior squad will continue training in preparation for AON Maadi Cup, the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Champs starting on 28 March.
