One of the biggest school events in the southern hemisphere and due to be held on Lake Ruataniwha, Twizel, later this month, the huge regatta attracts over 2000 secondary school rowers and many more supporters.
Sixteen rowers from Ashburton College have been training and racing for the past six months in preparation for the season-ending premier event.
At last week’s South Island Secondary School Championships at Twizel rowers were told that Maadi was at risk of being cancelled because of Covid-19.
Rowing NZ it would have a significant impact upon school rowing programmes, but remains supportive of the containment initiatives.
Ashburton College Rowing president Andrew Leverton said the decision to cancel was the right one based on the current circumstances.
"Our rowers have been training hard and building for Maadi for the past six months, just like hundreds of other school rowers around the country.
"They were really looking forward to the five-day event, both from the rowing and social aspects, and are rightly disappointed not to be going."
Ashburton College Rowing had an open day at Lake Hood on Sunday at 9.30am when any new rowers could jump into a boat and could find out more about the sport.
