Eleri Clare – Cashmere High School
Right now, Eleri Clare is one of the best-performing junior athletes in New Zealand. A powerhouse on the water, she rows for Cashmere High School in Christchurch and comes from a gymnastics background, giving her exceptional strength and core stability. According to sources within her club, Eleri’s erg score is among the best they have ever seen, and she has been a force to be reckoned with since she joined. Her rapid rise is remarkable, having rowed for just three seasons, she has already won four Maadi national titles. In 2024, she secured three gold medals in the U16 Coxed Quad, U17 Coxed Quad, and U18 Coxed Quad, proving her ability to compete and win at higher age levels.
This season, Cashmere made a strategic decision to place her in the single, and she has already delivered stunning results. She started with a gold medal in the Womens’ Open Single at Marlborough Champs in November. Despite a long break from racing the single, she returned at the South Island Secondary School Championships (S.I.S.S.C.) and dominated the field, winning gold by three seconds. Her versatility extends beyond the single, at S.I.S.S.C., she also won the Girls’ U18 Quad, finished second in the Girls’ U18 Double, and secured gold in the Girls’ U17 Single. Eleri is an exceptional sculler, combining raw power with technical efficiency. Cashmere is confident she can bring home the new Laszlo boat awarded to the Maadi U17 Single winner, and with her track record, she has every reason to believe she can pull it off.
Ione Eadie – King’s College
Ione Eadie enters Maadi with significant momentum behind her. While she has consistently posted strong results throughout the season, her recent performances suggest she is peaking at the right time. At the Auckland Junior Regatta, she finished second in the Girls’ U17 Single, second in the Girls’ U18 Eight, and fifth in the Girls’ U18 Quad, solid results, but nothing extraordinary. However, after training intensely on the Tāmaki River in Auckland, she returned for the North Island Secondary School Championships (N.I.S.S.C.) with a statement victory, claiming gold in the U17 Single and finishing second in the U18 Double. Her improvement is undeniable, and her win at N.I.S.S.C. signals she is ready to challenge for the top spot at Maadi.
What makes Ione’s trajectory so fascinating is her head-to-head battles with Paige Tevita-Williams. After losing to Paige at the Auckland Junior Regatta, her N.I.S.S.C. win may have shaken up the expected rankings, giving her a psychological edge heading into Maadi. King’s College has never won the U17 Single, but with Ione’s growing confidence and form, she could change that. More than just a title chase, this regatta is also a redemption opportunity for Ione, she finished second in the Girls’ U16 Single at 2024 Maadi, narrowly missing out on gold. Now, she has another chance to take the title and bring the new Laszlo boat home to King’s College. While she faces a formidable challenge from Eleri Clare, Ione has already proven she thrives as an underdog, making this one of the most exciting races to watch.
Prediction
Eleri Clare comes into this race as the clear favourite, but she won’t have it all her own way. With strong competition pushing her, she’ll need to bring her best performance. Given her power and confidence, she has what it takes to win but she’ll need to back it up on the day.
About The Author
Discover more from JRN
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
