The Maadi Cup is proving a nursery not only for future rowing talent but also the next generation of coaches.
Former national representatives Fiona Paterson and Graham Oberlin-Brown have stepped away from the oars and taken up stopwatches to develop future talent at Lake Ruataniwha near Twizel this week.
Oberlin-Brown, 26, is mentoring crews from St Paul’s Collegiate in Hamilton as he embarks on the final year of a business management degree.
His final act at international level was missing a London Olympic place in the men’s lightweight four by just over a second at the final qualification regatta in Munich. Coaching’s helped him embrace the sport again.
"That closed a big chapter in my life. Three years into a degree I wasn't prepared to commit to another Olympic cycle.
"When you're heavily involved at the high performance level of the sport you sometimes miss the things that made you want to row in the first place.
"I've rediscovered a lot of those this season.
"I love the management side which relates to my degree. You think you know what worked well as an athlete so you're intrigued to see whether it works in practice with you teaching it.
"It’s definitely more of a science as a coach than as an athlete.
"As an athlete you control the outcome; as a coach there are 40 variables [the approximate number of athletes Oberlin-Brown has observed this summer] out there every day so you do a lot of planning.
"It’s been a real wake-up."
Paterson, a London Olympic double sculling finalist and 2011 world championship bronze medallist, is working with crews from Rangi Ruru Girls' School in Christchurch.
The 31-year-old is completing a post-graduate teaching diploma at the New Zealand graduate school of education.
She will specialise in social studies and geography with a view to eventually instructing PE.
"When I retired I missed Christchurch and wanted to give something back to the rowing community, given I'd been coached at the top level for about 13 years.
"Hopefully I can pass something on because I love the sport and the company.
"Sometimes, when I see that beautiful calm water, I still want to be out there with the oars."
Napier Boys High School won the Springbok Shield in the boys under-18 four final from Hamilton Boys High School who had just under a boat length lead on Christ’s College.
Westlake obliterated the field in the girls under-18 with Waikato Diocesan second and St Margaret’s third.
