Otago crews to fore in repechages

Otago schools in action at the 2018 Maadi Cup at Lake Ruataniwha. All photos: Sharron Bennett
Otago schools in action at the 2018 Maadi Cup at Lake Ruataniwha. All photos: Sharron Bennett

Otago crews made a strong showing in the repechages at the Maadi Cup yesterday.

The region's schools were prominent at the national championships at Lake Ruataniwha as they raced to stay alive in their events.

Columba College had crews advance directly to finals in the girls under-16 coxed eight and girls under-18 coxed four.

Both finished second in their repechages to earn the right to race for a medal.

The other crews to advance secured spots in either semifinals or quarterfinals, although there were some impressive performances among them.

St Hilda's Collegiate had several strong performances.

Its girls under-15 coxed quadruple sculls crew was the fastest across its repechages in 8min 26.69sec while its under-17 double sculls duo of Ella Fry and Alannah Hamilton were similarly dominant, qualifying first in 7min 58.01sec.

Hamilton also had the second-fastest time in the single sculls repechages of 8min 54.21sec.

Its under-18 double sculls duo of Melissa Gray and Sophie Sinclair also won their repechage in 7min 52.10sec to advance to the semifinals.

Bayfield High School continued its strong return to the sport with Eva Hofmans advancing to the semifinal in the girls under-18 single sculls.

Her time of 8min 33.83sec was a long way in front of the second-fastest in the repechages.

The school's girls under-18 novice double sculls crew of Tasman Charteris-Wright and Samantha Bevin also advanced to the quarterfinals.

Otago Boys' High School impressed across the board.

Ben Mason and Tom Ryan, in particular, had a strong outing in their boys under-17 double sculls race, winning in 7min 20.39sec.

They edged fellow Otago duo Sam Pearce and Quinn Curtis of Mount Aspiring College, who were second in 7min 24.04sec.

Both advanced to the semifinals.

The same Otago Boys' duo then backed up and qualified for the under-18 semifinals in the same event.

John McGlashan College also had several successes, including Jez Nicholson-Kelly and Oscar Cochrane, who were first in their under-18 coxless pair race.

Wakatipu, Dunstan and Otago Girls' High Schools also had rowers advance through repechages, as did St Kevin's College.

Quarterfinals began last night and continue today.

In the post-section play of the national volleyball tournament, Otago Girls' High School lost its first-up match against Westlake Girls' High School three sets to zero.

It bounced back in the afternoon with a 3-0 win over Auckland's McAuley College.

To confirm a quarterfinal spot it must beat Mangere College today.

King's High School's match against St John's College (Hastings) was abandoned in the national junior secondary school cricket championships in Palmerston North yesterday.

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