Photo Credit: Tauranga Boys College
As the rowing community settles following the excitement of last week’s Maadi Regatta, the season is not over for a talented few who have been selected to trial for the island teams ahead of the annual North Island vs South Island Junior Regatta. Following the North Island’s domination last year, winning three-quarters of the races, this year’s rematch is set to be a quality exhibition for New Zealand’s emerging talent.
North Island
Following their historic performance as part of the U18 eight, bringing home the Maadi Cup for the first time in over 40 years, it is no surprise to see Westlake Boys High School’s Sam Bird and Donovan Pivac amongst the lineup. Following an unbeaten season in their eight, Bird and Pivac also shone across their events at Maadi Regatta, including joining U19 trialists Jack Buckley and George Langley to take home the iconic Springbok Shield for the U18 four, and receiving a bronze medal in the pair at the North Island Secondary School Championships only a few weeks prior. Making up the sculling contingent is St Pauls Collegiate‘s George Benjamin, who just claimed the win in the coveted U17 single at Maadi, winning himself his very own Laszlo skiff in the process. Alongside him is Whanganui High School‘s Nicky Maxim, a U16 who claimed a silver and two bronzes at Maadi, as well as stroking Aramoho Whanganui‘s senior quad to silver at the New Zealand Rowing Championships.
Also in the running to represent the North Island is Kate Slyfield, representing Waikato Diocesan School, whose consistency earned her three medals at Maadi just last week. Her top performance was part of the U17 coxed four, which won gold, as well as a silver in the age level above. Not only that, Slyfield just missed out on the Levin Jubilee Cup for the U18 eight, a mere two seconds behind the winners from St Margaret’s College. Hoping to continue her sculling success, St Peter’s School’s Olivia Henry, has also received her call up to trial. Remaining unbeaten throughout the season, Henry’s U18 double continued their success at the season’s finale event, on top of a bronze in the U18 quadruple sculls event.
It was not only rowers who received the call-up, with six coxswains also receiving an offer. Amongst those are Ryan Ollington of Hamilton Boys High School and King’s College’s Ayden Millar. Despite being one of the younger names on the list, Millar has already shown impressive promise. Over last week’s Maadi finals, he led their U17 squad to a win in both the eight and the four. Ollington also added three more medals to his impressive collection last week, picking up silver across the U17 eight and four, as well as the U18 four. Ollington was also notably part of last year’s Hamilton Boys crews, who took home both the Maadi Cup and Springbok Shield. With such a wealth of experience accrued already, Ollington is making a name for himself amongst the country’s rising stars.
South Island
Hoping for redemption after last year’s defeat, the South Island team may have found the talent it needs to stand up to the North Island’s might. Across the major events, particularly the girls’, the South Island teams were able to produce dominant wins, none more thrilling than the U18 eight. St Margaret’s College were able to return the Levin Jubilee Cup to their cabinet after seven years, a performance aided by the talents of Poppy Blakely. Blakely has earned herself a trial after adding two golds to her collection in both the U18 and U16 eights, along with picking up a bronze in the U17 coxed four. Another pair of rising stars amongst the southern crews is Ruby Smith and Bella Breen, who represented Dunstan High School in a series of stellar performances, winning both of their events: the U17 double and quadruple sculls, with Breen going on to also win the U15 double. As only a U15, being a trialist is a remarkable achievement for Breen, and as an athlete already rowing up multiple age groups, it will be interesting to see what she can achieve.
Other notable names to watch out for on the list are two of the St Bede’s College U18 eight, this year’s runners-up for the Maadi Cup: Alex Walters and Carter Connolly. This pair not only put in a fierce effort in the eight but were rewarded for their efforts further with two golds in the U16 four and eight. Charlie Manser of Wakatipu High School also received his trial nomination after a series of impressive sculling performances throughout the season, finishing with a win in both the U17 double and U18 quadruple sculls. He also demonstrated his talents in an incredible final sprint for the U17 single, which saw him pip Whakatane High School’s Ash Schutz for the silver medal by a hair-splitting 0.05 seconds.
Amongst the coxswains, a familiar name was spotted for those in the New Zealand and Irish rowing communities. Grace O’Connor, daughter of rowing former Olympic and World Champion Tony O’Connor, who now coaches the Christ College team, already has a very consistent record of performances. Last week, she added another gold, silver and bronze to her collection in the U18 four, Novice eight and U18 eight, respectively.
Until the trial, all these athletes can do is reflect on their successful seasons and forward to what they have to come, whether that be another year of school sport or on to bigger and better. What is certain is that for another year, New Zealand continues to produce an impressive depth of emerging talent, with some of the names here certainly ones to watch.
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