Rowing

The rowing team has grown significantly in the past year - from 10 in 2020 to a group of 22 rowers and three coxswains in 2021. The Covid outbreak had a major impact on the rowing season, particularly the secondary school regattas that our team was entered in. AON Junior Regatta – 27 February 2021

This two day regatta was attended by 11 of our female rowers. The crews qualified for 4xA and 4xB finals only to have the second day of the regatta cancelled due to a Covid-19 lockdown which was implemented overnight. This resulted in a very late night for rowers and their families who had to pack up camp and load all the boats before the midnight deadline. North Island Secondary Schools Regatta – March 2021

Again, the regatta was cancelled due to Covid-19. Results from the 2021 Aon Maadi regatta were used to identify the top three North Island crews placed in each event; the following medals were awarded to these successful crews:

GOLD Boys’ U16 Coxed

Quadruple Sculls

Ryan Calder, Shaun Snow, Luke Berquist, Zak Boonen and Conrad Hopkins (cox) GOLD Boys’ U18 Novice Double

Sculls

Luke Berquist, Zak Boonen GOLD Boys’ U18 Novice Coxed

Quadruple Sculls

Luke Berquist, Zak Boonen, Kaden Naidoo, Logan Howard-Hill and Conrad Hopkins (cox) SILVER Boys’ U16 Double Sculls Ryan Calder, Shaun Snow SILVER Girls’ U18 Novice Double

Sculls

Lucy Knott, Caitlin Berquist AON MAADI 2021 (National Secondary School Rowing Championships)

This annual event is the highlight for all school rowers. Our rowers had been working hard for months towards this regatta, training for up to 20 hours per week. It was a great relief when lockdown ended, and the regatta was able to go ahead. This year, Maadi was held at Karapiro from 22nd- 27th March with a record 2432 competitors from 123 schools. It commenced with a parade through Cambridge with our team looking super smart and bearing a banner designed and painted by Jonghyun Yun and helpers. Our team was outstanding all week, gaining results that outclassed many of the larger schools. The points for placing in A Finals are calculated to find the overall best school, resulting in Whakatāne High School taking the 5th spot, and bringing home three national titles. Top results:

GOLD Boys’ U16 Coxed Quadruple Sculls Ryan Calder, Shaun Snow, Luke Berquist, Zak Boonen and Conrad Hopkins (cox) GOLD Boys’ U18 Novice Double Sculls Luke Berquist, Zak Boonen GOLD Boys’ U18 Novice Coxed Quadruple Sculls Luke Berquist, Zak Boonen, Kaden Naidoo, Logan Howard-Hill and Conrad Hopkins (cox) SILVER Girls’ U18 Novice Double Sculls Lucy Knott, Caitlin Berquist BRONZE Boys’ U16 Double Sculls Ryan Calder, Shaun Snow A Final Girls’ U18 Coxed Quadruple Sculls 5th Lucy Knott, Caitlin Berquist, Olivia Calder, Earina Savinelli and Evia Linnell-Olson (cox) C Final Girls’ U16 Double Sculls 1st Graceyn Growden, Grace Iremonger C Final Girls’ U16 Coxed Quadruple Sculls 5th Graceyn Growden, Grace Iremonger, Sophie Peat, Sophie Sisson and Evia (cox)

Jonghyun Yun, Tom Sims, Alice Blakeway (cox), Sarah Mackie, Kirsty Bell, Emma Jackson, Greta Jackson, Entelea Savinelli, and Charlotte Billings all competed to a high standard, and many achieved personal bests for the season. While their week finished a little earlier than they hoped, they provided amazing support for their fellow rowers through to the finals. The team would like to acknowledge the outstanding coaching support from the Whakatāne Rowing Club which is provided entirely on a voluntary basis. A huge thank you goes out to all of the parents and whanau who support the regattas and are the loudest cheerleaders!

Coaches

Graham Watt, Steve Brine and Gary McAdams

Teacher-in-Charge

Julia Blakeway

School support

Susi Peterson

Squad Manager

Sarah Calder Our team for the coming season has already grown and we expect to have 40 rowers; so check out the next LearnTo-Row programme in May/June 2022 if you want to give this sport a go! Whakatāne High School | Te Waka Kura 2021 43