Otago schools have had one of their best weekends at the South Island secondary school championships.
The region’s schools emerged with 28 medals at Lake Ruataniwha, 10 golds, eight silvers and 10 bronzes.
Dunstan High School won nine medals, five of those gold. All came in girls’ races and were spread throughout the grades.
The under-15 girls impressed. Sophie Smith, Daendie de Beer, Meg Creagh, Malia Banks and cox Shaye Scott won the coxed quadruple sculls for the school, while MacKenzie Ealson and Paige Furrie took the double sculls.
John McGlashan College and Otago Boys’ High School gained six medals apiece.
Jack McLaughlan (John McGlashan) claimed first in the under-17 boys single sculls, and partnered Nic Chamberlain to win the double sculls. Will Edwards and Will Turner claimed gold in the under-16 boys double sculls and bronze in the coxed quadruple sculls.
Otago Boys’ best performed crew was its under-15 coxed four of Thomas Young, Jonathan Burnside, Peter Keenan, Freddie Pankhurst and cox Harry Brenssell, who claimed the school’s only gold.
Columba College won three medals — one of each colour, St Kevin’s College two silvers and Taieri College and Bayfield High School a bronze each.
Bayfield’s medal — to Eva Hofmans in the under-17 girls single sculls — was significant, the school having just returned to the sport after a long absence.
