Elite junior rowers from the South Island have beaten the North Island 81 points to 59 at the Under-18 North vs South Regatta at Lake Karapiro last week. 

Following trials at Lake Ruataniwha (23-25 April) and Lake Karapiro (24-26 April), the U18 North and South teams were selected. 

The teams trained together for a week before competing at the regatta at Lake Karapiro from the 29-30 April. 

South Island women’s sculling Coach Simon Smith represented Central Otago at the regatta alongside his daughter, Sophie. 

He says local athletes Sophie Smith (Dunstan High School), Pipi Horan (Mt. Aspiring College) and Marley King-Smith (Wakatipu High School) performed well. 

South Island under-18 Women’s sculling team: Simon Smith (coach, Alexandra), Sophie Smith (Alexandra), Pipi Horan (Wanaka), Lucy Munro (Nelson), and Georgia Thomson (Queenstown).

“There were dominant victories throughout,” Simon says. “We had calm weather and great racing”. 

Simon says the reason for the South Island win was due to the continual progression and strength of rowing by clubs and schools. 

“I think it is a follow-on from a dominant club and school season. 

“The strength of the sculling and sweeping is across the South Island and that’s followed through in the representative stuff. 

“It was an emphatic win and it was great to get so many athletes from so many clubs getting along and competing against one another.”

Simon says the under-18 South Island team is the first step in the elite pathway system of rowing and it was a chance for the young athletes to be exposed to the rigours of higher competition. 

“It was a good eye opener for the kids who want to take their rowing to the next level.”