PUKEKOHE HIGH SCHOOL ROWING 2020
THE SEASON THAT NEVER WAS
A
s is true for so many sports this year the 2020 Rowing season will be remembered as the season that never was with the pinnacle of school rowing – Maadi Cup cancelled due to COVID 19. The first school regatta of the season was Head of Harbour held at Lake Pupuke in mid February. Not all rowers attended this regatta, with those who did representing Pukekohe High exceptionally well. Caitlin Cottee and Caitlin Van Rijs both rowed a single for the first time at a regatta, no mean feat in what is often a windy lake! Caitlin Cottee (C.C.) placed 5th in Division 3 and Caitlin Van Rijs placed an impressive 2nd in Division 2. Devon Benny and Gracie Dawson also raced incredibly well in the girls Under 17 Single Sculls event. Alex van der Vetge had a busy day in his single racing in the Under 16, Under 17 and Under 18 events, coming an impressive 2nd in Division 1 in the Under 16 race. Eli McRobbie also raced valiantly in the boys Under 17 and Under 18 Single sculls. Josh Morrison, Cameron Preston, Nathan Tunzelmann and Drew McGuigan, coxed by Bradley Jenkins placed 4th in Division 1 of the exceptionally competitive Boys Under 16 Coxed 4. The Under 18 Novice crew of Ryan Dodds, Max and Jack Siemelink and Ryan Khun again coxed by Bradley Jenkins came 2nd in Division 1 of the equally competitive boys Under 18 Novice Coxed 4. Racing in the Boys Under 18 Coxed Quad the crew of Ryan Dodds, Max and Jack Siemelink, and Baden Moko had an impressive race to place 2nd in Division 1. A much bigger crew headed to Karapiro to compete in the North Island Secondary Schools Regatta in March, not knowing it would be the final regatta of their season. The Girls Under 18 Novice Coxed 4 of Caity Foote, Megan
van Leeuwen, Kiana Carter and Kyla Van Rijs coxed by Ann Cato placed 7th in their A final. The same crew raced in the Under 18 Novice Coxed Quad event again under the watchful eye of coxswain Ann Cato and placed 6th in the B final – making them 14th in the North Island in this event. The Girls Under 15 Coxed Quad made up of Chelsea Grey, Emma Hedley, Madi Prowse and Andreé Louw coxed by Ann Cato worked incredibly hard to make the A final, placing a reputable 8th. The Boys Under 18 Novice Coxed 4 of Ryan Dodds, Max and Jack Siemelink, Ryan Kuhn, coxed by Bradley Jenkins made the A final, fighting hard and coming 8th. The Boys Under 16 Crew of Josh Morrison, Cameron Preston, Drew McGuigan and Nathan Tunzelmann, cam 4th in the B Final of the coxed 4 with Ann Cato calling the shots, and 7th in the B Final of the Coxed Quad with Bradley Jenkins in the Coxswains seat. Eli McRobbie and Alex van der Vetge teamed up to place 8th in the B Final of the Boys Under 17 Double Sculls. Caitlin Van Rijs had an impressive race in the B Final of the Girls Under 16 Single Sculls to place 6th. Alex van der Vetge made the A final of the Boys Under 16 Single Sculls placing a reputable 6th. For the second year rowing Meg Grey represented Pukekohe High School in the A Final of the Girls Single Scull, this year in the Under 17 event. In what was a tough race, with an exceptionally close finish Meg won a bronze medal, representing Pukekohe High on the podium. Whilst the team never got to go to Maadi they worked incredibly hard all season, showed great team spirit, commitment and enthusiasm to what is a gruelling sport. They were awesome ambassadors of Pukekohe High and deserved every success they achieved.
“Rowing is a sport for dreamers. As long as you put in the work, you can own the dream.” 62 | ROWING 2020 | PHS YEAR BOOK 2020
