Dunedin rowers Jack O'Leary and Zoe McBride both turned in top efforts at the world junior championships but it was only O'Leary who came away with a medal.
The Kavanagh College pupils competed in finals at the regatta in Lithuania, O'Leary in the men's quad and McBride in the women's quad.
O'Leary (16) was part of a New Zealand crew which had to bow to Germany in the men's quad final, as the Germans led virtually from start to finish.
The New Zealand crew, which included rowers from Christchurch, Blenheim and the North Shore, rowed hard but was more than 2sec behind the Germans. China filled third place. The Germans put on a powerful finishing leg and could not be caught.
It was an impressive effort from O'Leary, who was in his debut at the world championships.
McBride (17) won a bronze medal with the New Zealand quad at the junior championships last year but could not repeat it this year at Trakai.
The pace was red-hot throughout the race and, in a blanket finish, the New Zealand boat came fifth.
McBride was the only member of the team which had competed at the championships last year.
The silver won by the men's quad was the only medal gained by the New Zealand team at the championships in which the European countries dominated.
The focus now shifts to the senior championships, to be raced in South Korea later this month.
