Rowing: St Kevin's looking likely for medals

St Kevin's College looks set to add to its medal collection when the Maadi Cup rowing regatta is held at Lake Ruataniwha next week.

The school won a gold and a silver medal when the New Zealand secondary schools championships were held at Lake Karapiro last year.

These crews are back but will be contesting a higher age bracket.

The St Kevin's eight of Bethany Robertson, Jo Kearney, Caitlin Kearney, Eilee Robinson, Lucy Fauth, Brittany More, Lauren Haggerty, Georgia Tangney and cox Kerry Bryant won the under-15 eight last year.

Tangney and Bryant have been replaced by Lauren Sexton and cox Sophie Moynihan in the under-16 crew this year.

The eight has been dominant in the South Island this season and has won every regatta.

The most significant performance was to beat Rangi Ruru to win the South Island secondary schools title at Lake Ruataniwha early this month.

The Kearney sisters, who won a silver medal in the under-15 double sculls last season, will be contesting the under-16 event and should return to the podium.

Other medal prospects from St Kevin's are Stacey Hore and Lauren Sexton in the under-17 single sculls.

Hore teams with Britney Wallace in the under-17 double sculls.

The Fred Strachan-coached Otago Boys under-17 quadruple sculls of Lachlan Landels, Brodie Hume, Cooper Gilmour, Ken McLellan and cox Aaron Woodhead are again medal prospects after winning the bronze medal in the under-16 event last year.

Robbie Mears is competing in the under-18 boys single sculls and must finish in the first two to automatically qualify for a New Zealand junior trial.

The Dunstan girls under-16 double sculls of Caitlin Lowe and Leah Morait beat the Kearney sisters at the South Island championships and should not be under-estimated.