ROAD TO MAADI '09'

It started in December last year with our first team success at the Marlborough Champs. Little did we know it was to be the schools most successful season.

Training Camp for a week in January led to success at Canterbury Club Champs across all age groups.

South Island Club Champs was the next regatta on the hit list. The under 17 coxed Quad won the heats on Saturday and had a tough battle against arch rivals St Bedes to come out on top with a Gold and a South Island Title for the second year running in different boats. Little did we know we had only scratched the surface of true potential within the squad.

New Zealand Club Champs a special opportunity for all who participate. Nathan Flannery and Campbell Stewart were selected to represent Union Rowing Club and teamed up with Lance Smith and Paddy Kluts to race at Club, U21 and U19 level. A 4^th in the U21 coxless quad and 5^th for Nath and Cam in the U19 double were top results for two 16 year old boys.

Canterbury Secondary Schools (Canterbury Mazda) and another successful regatta with the U17 Quad again taking out their age group and the U17 double of Nath and Cam. Every boat that was entered in the regatta made a final on Sunday (another first for the college).

South Island Secondary Schools was the next regatta targeted. To gain selection to Maadi the boys had to be one of the two fastest boats in the South Island preferably the fastest. This regatta is designed to set up the crews for the New Zealand Secondary Schools regatta, did it what! Every event entered made a final (another first for the college) and all performed to a very high standard.

Results for the year to date

Canterbury Champs -

Gold U17 Quad - Nathan, Campbell, Josh, Rob and Simon Breen

Gold U17 Double - Nathan and Campbell

South Island Club Champs -

Gold U17 Quad - Nathan, Campbell, Josh, Rob and Simon Breen

New Zealand Club Champs -

5th U19 Double Nathan Flannery, Campbell Stewart

4^th U21 coxless Quad Nathan Flannery, Campbell Stewart, and U18 old boys Lance Smith and Paddy Kluts

South Island Secondary Schools

Gold U15 Quad Gold-  Redmond McKenzie, Tom Bates, Daniel Ryan, James Brown and Zac Thompson

Gold U17 Quad - Nathan Flannery, Stewart Campbell, Josh Tansey, Rob Wilson, Coxswain - Simon Breen 

Gold U17 double - Nathan Flannery, Stewart Campbell

Silver U18 Quad - Nathan Flannery, Campbell Stewart, Josh Tansey, Robert Wilson, coxswain Simon Breen

Onwards and upwards, Maadi here we come!

If you are interested in being a part of a sport that is the most successful in the schools history please talk to the Rowing Captain Simon Breen, Deputy Captain Campbell Stewart or Master in Charge of Rowing Mr. Paddy Dowling.

Always open for sponsorship please contact Paddy Dowling pdowling@stc.school.nz

Or phone 348 7010 ext 732

Rowing Sponsors 2009

Lincoln University

Asmuss South Island Ltd

Both firms have sponsored the school a Quad/Four convertible boat. This has been made possible with the continued support and sponsorship of Geoff Robinson at Huntsman Rowing (division of CSB Huntsman Boats) who has supplied both boats.

Thank you also to the continued support from 

Lyttleton Engineering long time supporters of rowing at the college.

If you are interested in sponsoring rowing at St Thomas' or would like some information about sponsoring rowing please feel free to contact Paddy Dowling pdowling@stc.school.nz or phone (03) 348 7010

Paddy Dowling Master in Charge of Rowing