As the penultimate major event for these North Island teams, the North Island Secondary School Rowing Championship are the final opportunity for these crews to see their standing amongst the Under-16 lineup. From dominant mega-programmes to surprise winners, the build-up to this regatta has highlighted more than a few potentials for these North Island champion titles.
King’s College
If there’s one name that won’t be a surprise to see amongst these, it is King’s College. Following an outstanding domination across the age groups last season, King’s shows no signs of slowing down. At the recent Junior Rowing Championships, combined with the CollegeSport Auckland Rowing Championships, King’s were the overall top-performing school, securing the School Shield by a landslide with over 25 points separating them from the runners-up. Contributing significantly to this success was the Under-16 squad, which achieved two second-place finishes in the coxed eight and four, resulting in both a gold and a silver medal for the Auckland awards. Patrick Sandlant, James Yeoman, Benson Edwards and Oscar Eriksen, along with coxswain Sammie Richardson, are no strangers to success, with several of them joining the club’s respectable Under-18 eight in the running for the iconic Maadi Cup in a few weeks time. Their experience and ability to handle the pressure in these categories bring grit and intensity to the Under-16 category, leading them to dominant performances in the eight at Karāpiro Christmas and Head of Harbour Regattas. Joining Hamish Edwards, Jack Morris, Taylor Kijowski and Fredrick Dryden, the squad will once again be hoping to secure multiple titles and podium finishes this weekend.
St Peter’s College
Following a decent string of races, which saw them finish amongst third and fourth across their events this season, the stars aligned for St Peter’s College in an impressive recent performance at the Junior Rowing Championships and CollegeSport Auckland Schools Championships, which saw them pull out a commanding two-length win in the Under-16 eight. Led by coxswain Monty Simpkins, the crew pushed past favourites King’s and Hamilton Boys to take the win, upping the gold tally to two for most of it’s members who were also involved in the winning Under-17 eight at the competition. Not content with the one medal, Solomon Jacob, Hugh Friedricksen, Zachary Horton and Tommy Landells, commanded again by Monty Simpkins, secured an additional bronze in the coxed four as the third-fastest Auckland finisher, and fifth overall. The crew went on to secure yet another gold at the recent New Zealand Championships in the Intermediate coxed eight, leading them into these North Island finals in a very strong position.
Hamilton Boys High School
Another major name well-known throughout schoolboy racing, Hamilton Boys look to restore their dominant history of glory in the junior events. While they have consistently secured podium positions throughout the season, they have yet to take a win across the coxed eight and four. Following their silver medal at last year’s Maadi Regatta, the squad has made good strides throughout the season with successful performances, including finishing runners-up in the four at the recent Junior Rowing Championships as well as third in the eight. This comes after its squad members pushed their limits to also take on the Under-17 four and eight categories at Kārapiro Christmas Regatta, finishing third and fourth, respectively. Their results have shown steady improvement over the season, so could a well-timed end-of-season win come just in time for the boys in red and black?
Predictions
Determined to dominate once again, the behemoth of King’s and Hamilton Boys will be the key competitors for champion status this weekend. While Hamilton have been known over the years for commanding performances across the disciplines, King’s has proven an almost unbeatable feat across the age categories this season so far, so it will likely take a significant effort for a new name to topple this team. Like King’s, Hamilton Boys’ Under-16 squad also have crossover with its premier crew in the Under-18 eight, which could prove to be blessing or a curse. With experience brings an extra major event that could push these athletes to their limits, so it will be interesting to see which of these teams can handle the pressure.
