There was plenty of action on the water last week for Te Awamutu and King Country students competing at the Lake Karāpiro-based 2025 Maadi rowing regatta and Waka Ama Secondary School Nationals in Rotorua.
Maiara Moimoi grabbed second in the girls’ under-17 single sculls D final. Photo: Casey Lee Baker
Te Awamutu College’s Maadi cohort saw Maiara Moimoi place second in the girls’ under-17 single sculls D final before joining Tessa Chappell to claim first in the girls’ under-18 double sculls C final.
Several other Te Awamutu single sculls competitors did well in their finals, just missing out on the top three.
Hunter Coleman placed fourth is his under-17 C final, as did Casey Lee Baker in her under-18 D final and Keegan Jordaan was sixth in the boys’ under-18 D final.
Keegan Jordaan placed sixth in the boys’ under-18 D final. Photo: Casey Lee Baker
“All the rowers performed the best they have all season. Some crews came away with personal best times as well which was a win for them,” Te Awamutu Rowing Club representative Alya Mexted said.
“They all rowed extremely well, technique wise and effort wise, and the school rowing team finished their season on a high with these achievements. It’s a big positive moving forward into next season.”
Cambridge High School, Te Kūiti High School and Ōtorohanga College had competitors at the Lake Tikitapu-based waka ama event. The five-day event had a record 2200 students competing.
The Cambridge Te Oko Horoi crew placed first in the under-16 girls’ W6 250m Te Kei final.
Te Kūiti took home three third placings in the under-16 boys’ and under-16 girls’ W6 500m final as well as the under-19 girls W6 500m final.
A Ōtorohanga College Facebook post had a special mention to student Darius Mulligan-Hughes after he finished 12th in the country in both the J19s elite divisions.
“Ka mau te wehi, Darius! Your whānau, friends and school are incredibly proud of your achievements. Keep chasing greatness!”
Newsreader Kay Gregory, who lives in Te Awamutu, has been announcing and presenting medal winners at the Maadi Regatta for 19 years and is pictured with the Maadi Cup.
Hunter Coleman during the under-17 C final. Photo: Casey Lee BakerTe Kūiti took home three third placings in the under-16 boys’ and under-16 girls’ W6 500m final as well as the under-19 girls W6 500m final.
Ōtorohanga College’s Darius Mulligan-Hughes after he finished 12th in the country in both the J19s elite divisions.
Maadi placings:
Te Awamutu College
Girls – 2nd under-17 single sculls D final – Maiara Moimoi; 1st under-18 double sculls C final – Maiara Moimoi, Tessa Chappell.
Cambridge High School
Boys – 1st under-17 coxless pair oars B final – Kayden Simmons, Ben Gillanders; 2nd under-17 coxed quad sculls B final – Charlie Sampson, Jack Bacon, Kayden Simmons, Louis Steverson + Maddy Peacocke; 3rd under-17 coxed four B final – Charlie Sampson, Dylan Jackson-McClutchie, Jack Bacon, Louis Steverson + Maddy Peacocke; 2nd under-17 single sculls D final – Dylan Jackson-McClutchie.
Girls – 2nd under-16 double sculls A final – Lily Cameron, Cate Kuggeleijn; 2nd under-15 double sculls B final – Sienna Ropiha, Olive MacDonald; 3rd under-16 single sculls A final – Lily Cameron; 1st under-17 single sculls D final – Mackenzie Lawton; 3rd under-18 single sculls C final – Sienna Frethey; 3rd under-18 double sculls C final – Sienna Frethey, Millie Balsom.
St Peter’s
Boys – 1st under-18 novice double sculls A final – Josh Garrett, Matt Carey; 2nd under-18 novice double sculls A final – Mattias Everett, Bradey van der Bijl; 2nd under-18 novice coxed eight A final – Bradey van der Bijl, Matt Carey, Mattias Everett, Josh Garrett, Theo Anthony, Kieran Lawson, Oscar Duley, Nick Rothery + Jade Noonan; 1st under-18 novice coxed quad sculls A final – Mattias Everett, Bradey van der Bijl, Josh Garrett, Matt Carey + Jade Noonan; 2nd under-18 novice coxed quad sculls A final – Samuel Wilson, Andrew Harris, Kieran Lawson, Nick Rothery + Sophie Sinclair.
Girls – 1st under-18 double sculls A final – Molly McClintock, Olivia Henry; 3rd under-18 coxed quad sculls A final – Olivia Henry, Molly McClintock, Abby Wilson, Neve Watkins + Darcie Granwal; 3rd under-18 single sculls B final – Zoe Phillips; 1st under-18 coxed eight B final – Olivia Henry, Lily Gundesen, Caitlyn Silcock, Molly McClintock, Zoe Phillips, Abby Wilson, Kate Gardner, Lucy Crampton + Darcie Granwal.
Waka ama placings:
Cambridge
Girls – 1st under-16 W6 250m final.
Te Kūiti High School
Boys – 3rd under-16 W6 500m final.
Girls – 3rd under-16 W6 500m final; 3rd under-19 W6 500m final.
Maiara Moimoi (strokefront) and Tessa Chappell (bowback) won the girls’ under-18 double sculls C final. Photo: Casey Lee Baker
