ST THOMAS' COLLEGE ROWING

 

SEASON 2009 - 2010

Deliver, Deliver, Deliver and they did!!!

It started in December last year with our first ever biannual trip over to our brother school St Josephs Gregory Terrace in Brisbane. The journey was a combined effort between the senior rowing squad and the Edmund Rice Group. The concept was to develop a closer brotherhood between the schools and to put our boys up against some of the best rowers in Australia, train with and alongside them. The Edmund Rice boys were doing community service within Brisbane.

The boys all felt sick in the first couple of days but luckily enough we had to row with Terrace. The sessions consisted of long rows with power pieces during the session. The longest row was 26km, 13km one way and then a slog back in single sculls. Christmas break is always a worry for coaches but the whole squad came through it unscathed and were ready to hit our January training camp with power and take the initiative for the upcoming season.

Training Camp as usual held no surprises just loads of hard work and endurance rows. At times 60km a day was cranked out by the boys as well as biking to and from the Lake. Otago Champs were at the end of training week and it was our first ever visit to these championships largely due to the previous timing of the event. It represented the end of a tough week of training but was a perfect test for the new combinations gained at training camp. All squads surpassed what was before an unknown and untested quantity.  Canterbury Champs ... this regatta really defined the rest of the season for all squads once again pushing personal boundaries and leaving wake in their paths for the rest of the field to stumble across. Being a small boat qualification regatta for all New Zealand hopefuls it was more than pleasing that the senior boys were pushing candidates for the new Zealand U23 and open squads.

South Island Club Championships ... this is the first regatta with medal representation and is a regatta when titles are there to grab. The squad looked forward to this all year, records to be made broken and bling to bring home around their necks. For the U16 squad it was their first opportunity to be able to earn a St Thomas' Rowing Presentation Cap. These can only be earned at Championship Regattas by rowers older than U15 age group (except at Maadi) and they have to win a title to qualify. The U16 Quad and Double won Gold = two titles and were elated to have earned a cap. The U18 squad swept the regatta earning a medal in each event ending the regatta with 2 x Gold, 1x Silver and 1x Bronze. Leading into the school champs this was just the path all wanted to be on.

Canterbury Secondary Schools Regatta ... this was a great chance to race close to home, at Lake Hood in Ashburton and race the fastest small boat crews in New Zealand. All squads from U15 - U18 were fighting for the right to compete at Maadi. The weekend started well with some great results then the day was shortened due to the wind. The next day racing was ploughed through as it needed to be in all conditions to complete the regatta. The boys fought like the warriors of Troy to battle out some excellent results. Unfortunately for both the U15 and U16 squads this was the end of the road to Maadi. Half of the U16 squad qualified and so did the u18 with another regatta completed in great fashion. South Island Secondary Schools ... this was an impressive show of true St Thomas' courage as the boys who were not selected for Maadi were still racing in this their last regatta of the season and they still had a point to prove as to why they should have been selected. Results were varied with the pick of the bunch being the U8 squad, although they had their first loss of the year to Christs College - and weren't they happy. A plan was at foot and was about to be executed.

Maadi Cup the pinnacle of Secondary School Rowing in Australasia. There was the added pressure of having an old school coach at the regatta racing against us with his Australian Championship winning Quad. Also the expectation of the boys on themselves to perform and take away the schools first Gold medal and title at Maadi Cup. The regatta started well and then the weather decided to pack it in for the rest of the week making it difficult to qualify for all competitors. It was a true test of mental strength and courage. Finals day arrived and the weather was still horrible so it was also called off. The power was in the hands of the weather and the race committee. All our crews had qualified for 'A' and 'B' finals. The decision had been made to race the entire programme on the same day. 42 events all 'A' and 'B' finals it was going to be a tall order. U16 squad had made two finals 'A' in the Quad and 'B' in the double. They pulled out of the 'B' final to concentrate on the Quad and unfortunately for the boys who were first at the thousand they were 5^th across the line. U18 had made 'A' in the Quad, Four, both Doubles and Nathan in the single. Epic times were ahead for the squad. With the support of the parents and the unquestioning belief and spirit of the rowers the results speak for themselves. A New Zealand Secondary Schools Title, the biggest shield in the competition and a record set at the college which will never be surpassed.

The question should never have been Can they Deliver? It should have been how much can they deliver? Because it was something special and was an amazing experience to be a part of, one that all who attended and were a part of will never forget.

 Results for the year:

Otago champs

U16 Squad

U16 Quad = 2^nd - Redmond, Creighton, Tom, Daniel and Zac Thompson

U16 Double  = 2^nd - Redmond, Creighton

 

U18 Squad

U21 Coxless Four = 3^rd - Nathan, Campbell, Robert, Gerard

U21 Quad = 1^st - Nathan, Campbell, Gerard, Joshua

U21 Double Scull = 3^rd -  Nathan, Campbell

U21 Single = 2^nd - Nathan

 

Canterbury Champs

U16 Squad

U16 Quad = 2^nd - Redmond, Creighton, Tom, Daniel and Zac Thompson

 

U18 Squad

Mens Club Four = 1^st - Nathan, Gerard, Campbell, Joshua and Matt Radburnd

Mens Club Single = 3^rd - Nathan

Mens Club Double = 2^nd - Nathan, Campbell

                                    3^rd - Gerard, Joshua

 

South Island Club Champs

U16 Squad

Gold U16 Quad - Redmond, Creighton, Tom, Daniel and Zac Thompson

Gold U16 Double - Redmond, Creighton

 

U18 Squad

Gold Mens Club Four - Nathan, Gerard, Campbell, Joshua and Matt Radburnd

Gold Mens Open Coxless Quad - Nathan, Campbell, Gerard, Joshua

Silver Mens Club Double - Nathan, Campbell

Bronze Mens Club Single - Nathan      

 

Canterbury Secondary Schools Champs

U16 squad

U16 Double = 1^st - Redmond, Creighton

U18 Squad

U18 Four = 1^st - Nathan, Gerard, Campbell, Joshua and Matt Radburnd

U18 Quad = 1^st - Nathan, Campbell, Gerard, Joshua and Matt Radburnd

U18 Double = 1^st - Nathan, Campbell                                              

U18 Single = 2^nd - Nathan

                      3^rd - Campbell

  

South Island Secondary Schools

U18 Squad

Gold U18 Quad - Nathan, Campbell, Gerard, Joshua and Matt Radburnd

Silver U18 Four - Nathan, Campbell, Gerard, Joshua and Matt Radburnd

Silver U18 Double - Nathan, Campbell

Bronze U18 Single - Nathan

New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships (Maadi Cup)

U18 Squad

Gold U18 Quad - and Winners of the Trevor Coker Memorial Shield

Nathan, Campbell, Gerard, Joshua and Matt Radburnd

Silver U17 Single - Joshua Tansey

Bronze U18 Double - Nathan Flannery, Campbell Stewart

Individual Success

U18 Squad - Nathan Flannery, Campbell Stewart, Gerard Radburnd, Joshua Tansey and Matt Radburnd (coxswain)

• Top Ten Badges for placing in the Top Ten places in all events entered at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Regatta (Maadi Cup)
• Honoured and badged at Canterbury Secondary Schools Awards for Winning the U18 Quad at Nationals and the Trevor Coker Memorial Shield at Maadi Cup
• Nominated and placed second at the Zonta Awards for the Outstanding Team Performance of the Year.
• Team of the Year - St Thomas of Canterbury College Sports Awards

South Island Secondary Schools Squad

Joshua Tansey - U18 Quad and U18 Single. 1^st in Single in New Zealand. South Island Team won the regatta.   

 

New Zealand Junior Trialists

Campbell Stewart and Nathan Flannery

Nathan Flannery

• New Zealand Junior - 1 seat in the Coxless Quadruple Scull
• Bronze = coxless quad, World Junior Rowing Championships, Prague
• Rower of the Year - St Thomas Rowing Awards evening
• Sportsman of the Year - St Thomas of Canterbury College Sports Awards
• Cheltenham Cup Winner - Canterbury Secondary School Male Rower of the Year
• Outstanding Male Sportsman of the Year 2010 - Zonta Awards  
• Member of the Southern RPC 2010

Rowing Report

This season has surpassed all previous seasons by an insurmountable quantity. We had for the first time an Under 15 8 comprised mostly of year 8 students, a new breed of U16 rowers who put in strong challenges throughout the season and an U18 squad who was brutal in their work, never looked back and continued to improve at a quick rate through out the season. Successful and the most successful ever is an understatement all crews made some sort of history this year and it is with great pride that I was able to share and be a part of this with the coaching staff. James Smith a first day rower and now coach with the U16 squad, Monique Bates whose brother Thomas continued to climb the ladder of success during the season. Simon Breen our most successful coxswain and was instrumental in getting the U15 boys on and off the water and mentoring Matt Radburnd.

Claire Burrough was the foundation to the season with all of her work in behind the scenes. She was on the computer constantly emailing people; she kept the peace when none was in sight, sorted problems, eased stressed rowers with great knowledge and wisdom. She stabilised the ship in times of need. To all of the coaches she was a mentor, all of her expertise when it came to sports nutrition and sports prescription was of huge value. The team was fantastic and all worked well together, this is what helped the results and kept the focus on the long term goals.

The committee ran like a well oiled machine. All aspects of the regattas were handled with precision and accuracy, all details were covered and back ups were never too far away. Huge thanks must go to Rod and Trish Flannery for all of the hard work over the previous years and especially this year as they were in the hot seat for the entire season. A job not too many people envy. The committee are all volunteers and are the unsung heroes of the whole operation. With out these parents the whole would be without its core. I look forward to many more parents joining the committee and the continuation of the success they bring to every season and the overall running of rowing at St Thomas'.

The rowing Captain, Nathan Flannery and his Deputy Joshua Tansey have bought some new aspects to the running of the squad this year. They were both well organised and ensured that at regattas all aspects ran smoothly especially boat loading and care for the equipment. Standards were set high and the bar continually raised, the occasional scowl was never missed by the younger squad members and all was happy. St Thomas' College the Teachers, Board of Trustees and School community are always a part of rowing. The continued support from these areas while in the pursuit of excellence is critical. Knowing that the community supports your efforts helps drive the boys and coaches to work harder to gain the results that reflect the community. Thank you from all the current and previous rowers and parents, it is everything.

Hayley, Madison and Lukas your support and continued patience is always what drives me. The time I spend away from home is time away from you all. Thank you for your understanding.

Just last week Shane Bond talked about the New Zealand Cricket team always underestimating themselves and their ability. Over celebrating successes and accepting defeat because they feel it is warranted. Small country syndrome!!! Better luck next time. He bought up a good point. Let's embrace our ability, be confident, use our talents succeed and then strive for more. The end is only near if your goal is too short.  

Rowing is a sport within a discipline, it has its own culture and identity that has been developed through the years, the continual pursuit for personal excellence is the reason that success has been a part of this culture and long may it continue.

Onwards and upwards for the 2010 - 2011 season

This season will be the best in the history of St Thomas' College Rowing!!!

 

Paddy Dowling

Master in Charge

St Thomas' College Rowing