Top in North Island Secondary Schools

St Paul’s Collegiate School rowers tied with Waikato Diocesan School for Girls as the top school at the North Island Secondary School (NISS) Championships and were recipients of the Derbyshire Trophy for the first time since its inception in 1974.

A rowing squad of more than 60 rowers and coxswains represented the School at the Championships held at Lake Karapiro from 10-12 March 2023. It was a well-prepared squad that participated in a strong competition with more than 80 schools and 1,800 students.

St Paul’s entered finals day with 17 x A and 5 x B finals; it wasn't long until these races were transferred into medals. The victory was contagious and more squads stepped up to the podium after some nail-bitingly close sprint finishes.

The rowers were supported from the sidelines by parents who kept the rowers fed and focused, and by coaches who supported the crews every stroke of the way.

Crews who finished the Aon Junior Regatta in the top three or NISS in the top five have qualified to represent the school at the Aon Maadi Cup Regatta from 27 March-1 April 2023.

Results:

• GOLD BU17 Pair – Sam Jefferis and Gane Harbutt
• GOLD GU16 Quad – Zara Brangwynne, Sophie Dunn, Olive Montgomerie, Freddie Savill and Reegan Isaac
• GOLD BU15 Quad – Caleb Blake, Angus Weir, George Benjamin, Lachie Murphy and James Verry
• SILVER – BU17 Quad – Ashton Coombes, Gane Harbutt, Sam Jefferis, Austen Plimmer and George Mackintosh
• SILVER GU18 Double – Jenna Brangwynne and Sophie Dunn
• SILVER GU16 Double – Zara Brangwynne and Sophie Dunn
• SILVER BU16 Quad – Sam Schulze, Cam Ward, Finn Rayner, Kaden Robinson and Fletcher Rogers
• SILVER BU15 Octuple – Caleb Blake, Angus Weir, George Benjamin, Lachie Murphy, Tyler Tretherway, CJ Snyman, TK Thompson-Evans, Harry Parham and James Verry
• SILVER Novice Quad – George Adamson, Oliver Gimblett, Sam Schulze, Sam Webb and Hugh Trower
• BRONZE U16 Four – Drew Ellison, Cam Ward, Finn Rayner, Kaden Robinson and Bruno Cropper