This article was written before the release of the entry draw due to the late release of supplementary entries.
Marking the start of the summer racing season, the Karāpiro Christmas Regatta is set to deliver some exciting early-season matchups, with the Boys’ U18 Quad shaping up to be one of the headline events.
St Paul’s Collegiate
St Paul’s Collegiate enter the weekend as the crew to watch following a commanding performance at the Karāpiro Club Regatta. Their depth in this event was on full display, shown with 3 quads in the A final of the Boys’ U18 Quad. With momentum on their side, St Paul’s will be looking to reinforce their status as frontrunners for this event and build a campaign with their eyes firmly on Maadi. If they can execute a good race this weekend. Expect to see them standing on the podium at the bare minimum.
St Peter’s Auckland
St Peter’s Auckland have also established themselves as a serious threat in this event in previous seasons. A strong 4th-place showing at the Club Regatta suggests they are building well and could be mounting a campaign for a successful season. Again, if they execute cleanly this weekend, a podium is well within their reach.
Tauranga Boys’ College
Tauranga Boys’ College will likewise be eager to push up the field. After coming second behind St Paul’s at the Club Regatta, they will be eager to overturn this result and claim their position as the frontrunner crew as we progress to KRII. With clear motivation in their minds, it is well within the reach of this crew to topple St Paul’s and climb to the top step this weekend.
Prediction
This event has long been a fiercely contested event, and expect this weekend to be no different. I expect to see St Peter’s Auckland in third, Tauranga Boys’ in second and none other than St Paul’s Collegiate claiming first place. While it’s looking to be a close one, the depth shown by St Paul’s is unlikely to face any serious danger of losing their position as the frontrunner North Island Crew in the Boys’ U18 Quad.
