It is finally time: The 2025 Maadi Regatta. The largest school sports event in the Southern Hemisphere, for many athletes it is the grandest stage of the season, if not their careers, and their prime time to show up and prove what they can do. Though there is no opportunity to win a brand new Laszlo boat like the U17 Single, the U18 Single is still a fiercely competitive event. This year, it seems the title will be battled out between two main competitors – Angalla Carney from Waikato Diocesan, and Charlotte Peterson from Marian College. The spectacle is clear: a good old North vs South battle.
Angalla Carney – Waikato Diocesan School for Girls
Starting off with the North Island, we have Dio’s Carney. At the North Island Secondary School Championships (N.I.S.S.C.), she took victory in this event by over 13 seconds, a blisteringly fast performance. This really demonstrated just how far above the rest of her competition she is. At the same regatta, she also claimed another gold medal in the U18 Coxed Eight, as well as a bronze medal in the U18 Pair. This showcases a range of talent across all boat classes and disciplines. She really is the complete package. Last season, she just missed out on claiming her own boat, finishing second in the U17 Single by just two seconds. It seems she is back for vengeance, and so far she is doing it in sensational fashion. Clearly, as it stands she only has one real competitor…
Charlotte Peterson – Marian College
Peterson completed a very similar feat to Carney at the South Island Secondary School Championships (S.I.S.S.C.), taking victory in the U18 Single by a remarkable 11 seconds. She supplemented this result with a silver in the U18 Coxed Quad, and a bronze in the U18 Double. At the New Zealand Rowing Championships, racing for Avon Rowing Club, she claimed bronze in the Womens’ Club Double, and just missed out in the Club Single, finishing fourth. She also competed for the South Island at the North vs South Regatta last year, demonstrating the level of talent she possesses. So, on paper, she is really very similar to her counterpart from the North Island, with all the factors needed to showdown against her.
Notable Mentions
For the final position on the podium, there are a couple of options, again, featuring one from the North Island, and one from the South. From John Paul College, we have Lucy Gaston, who finished with silver at N.I.S.S.C., still a comfortable four seconds ahead of the remainder of the field. As only a U17, at Maadi she may choose to focus on the U17 Single instead, but if not, she is still a force to be reckoned with in this category.
From the South Island is Ciara Paterson from Columba College. Her silver in the U18 Single at S.I.S.S.C., along with a fourth in the U18 Pair, shows a high level of potential. Furthermore, at the New Zealand Rowing Championships last month, she came away with a silver in the Womens’ Club Coxless Four. She could certainly be the one to round out the podium come finals day.
Prediction
Calling first place is not an easy task. Overall, Angalla Carney seems slightly more like the complete package, but it is hard to overlook the blisteringly fast time Charlotte Peterson put down on the slightly slower Twizel waters. For this reason, I would predict her to clinch the top spot, though it will be close. Behind those two, I think Ciara Paterson will be completing the podium.
About The Author
Discover more from JRN
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
