Dunstan High School (DHS) rowers placed seventh out of 111 schools in sculling at the iconic Maadi Cup regatta held in Twizel last weekend.

Head coach Simon Smith said their results were “pretty fantastic”, especially with young athletes bringing home four medals.

“We took 14 kids . . . got seventh best out of 111 schools in sculling, got best in Otago, made nine ‘A’ finals, brought home one gold, and three silvers.”

The gold medal was won by Bella Breen and Ruby Smith in the girls under 16 double sculls.

Pictured are (from left) coach Natalie Wilson, Bella Breen, Ruby Smith and coach Simon Smith on the podium with their gold medals. PHOTO: Supplied

Pictured are (from left) coach Simon Smith, Bella Breen, Charlotte Crosbie and coach Natalie Wilson. PHOTO: Supplied

The silver medals went to both boys and girls in the under 15 double sculls, the pairs were Max Smith and Christopher McIntosh, and Bella Breen and Charlotte Crosbie.

Amelie Sutherland-Harris (left) and Charlotte Crosbie setting the pace. The duo made the A final in the under 18 novice double and were placed 7th. PHOTO: Supplied

The third silver was won by the girls under 16 coxed quad sculls crew of Bella Breen, Ruby Smith, Poppy Tuffin, Phoebe Harrex and Lily Kain.  

Two DHS girls, Niamh Odocherty and Tahlia Nelson, were selected to trial for the South Island under 18 team and will return to Twizel over Easter weekend to row again in the trials.

The girls under 17 coxed quad sculls who placed sixth was Lily Kain (obscured), Emer Bryant, Ellie King, Niamh Odocherty and Tahlia Nelson. PHOTO: Leon Morris

At Maadi Niamh and Tahlia placed fourth and fifth respectively in the girls under 17 single sculls.

Simon said lots of the rowers made finals in age groups above their own age proving they have exciting futures ahead of them in the sport.

“We had a quick change from club to the school rowing season . . . that makes it more interesting for the athletes.

“[They] are over the moon with [their results], it’s a huge achievement to make an A final.

“There are 15,000-20,000 spectators there watching, there is nothing else like it.”

DHS under 16 girls quad, who won a silver medal. PHOTO: Supplied

The DHS rowing squad at Maadi Cup. PHOTO: Supplied

Cromwell College sent a small number of rowers to Maadi Cup, who were knocked out in the heats aside from the girls under 16 double sculls crew of Alyssa Wilson and Ayala Cunningham who placed third in the C final. 

The New Zealand Secondary School Championships (also known as the Aon Maadi Cup Regatta) is one of the biggest secondary schools sporting events in New Zealand and the Southern Hemisphere. 

It was held in Twizel and next year will be held at Lake Karapiro, Cambridge.

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