Orca joins Marsden rowers

By Frank Neill

A team of Samuel Marsden

Collegiate rowers had a once-ina-lifetime experience when an orca decided to swim alongside them while they were training on Wellington Harbour on 1 March.

The rowers said they were in awe of their experience, and noted “how majestic these beautiful creatures were” when gliding through the water next to their boat.

“To have an experience like we had at Petone will be unforgettable for them and now makes them feel pretty lucky,” Marsden’s Rowing

Coach Jamie Fitzgerald says.

“From the coach boat, I could see hundreds of cars slowing down on the motorway for a glimpse.

“Perhaps some of them might like to start rowing with the Wellington Rowing Club for a ringside seat next time!”

Five students were in the boat – a coxed quadruple scull.

The under 15 rowers were Imogen Hille, Katie Harris, Charlie Fitzgerald and Paige Saluni, and they were coxed by Isabella Sharp.

Their incredible harbour experience came just days after the crew had won silver at the 2023 Aon

Junior Regatta, rowed on Lake Kar piro on 25 and 26 February. When the team was joined by the orca, they were training for the North Island Secondary School Rowing Championships, which will be rowed on Lake Kar piro between 10 and 12 March.

This will be a big regatta for the team, as those who make the A and B finals will get the chance to compete in the Maadi Cup – the pinnacle of the school rowing calendar.

This year’s Maadi Cup will take place at Lake Kar piro from 27 March to 1 April.

Batting first, Taita declared its inning having reached 247 for the loss of nine wickets.

Four Johnsonville bowlers shared the wickets, with Maximus Petrie taking three for 48, Zac Ringrose two for 68, Sean Wakelin two for 27 and Ben Hilder two for 44. At stumps on day one, Johnsonville had reached 81 for the loss of four wickets.

Scott Mudgway was the big contributor with 46 runs.

Johnsonville will go into day two of the match, on 11 March, with a deficit of 166 runs and six wickets in hand.

Karori will be looking for early wickets on day two of its match against Eastern Suburbs. Batting first on day one, Karori was all out for 110, with Alex Thomson contributing 32 runs and Kevindra Weerasundara 29 runs.

In reply Eastern Suburbs was 61 for the loss of two wickets.

Two victories in two days

Johnsonville bowler Terry

Dean has achieved a rare feat for a junior bowler, winning two club championships on successive days.

Terry paired up with Kevin McAlister to win the Johnsonville Bowling Club’s men’s junior pairs championship on 2 March.

The next day he won the C H Grant Cup when he was victorious in the men’s junior singles championship.

The G H Grant Cup is a sig- nificant trophy, having been first contested in the 1947/48 season. Many of those whose names are on it have gone on to higher-level successes.

Terry faced Adam Ryan in the junior pairs final on 3 March.

In the first part of the game, it looked unlikely that Terry would make it two in a row, with Adam shooting out to a quick 7-0 lead. However, Terry settled into his game, taking a 14-11 lead on the back of two fours. He then held on to win 21-15.