The 10-person rowing squad from Te Kura O Tititea Mount Aspiring College (MAC) “did Wānaka proud” at last week’s Maadi Regatta 2025, Wānaka Rowing Club (WRC) representative Lizzie Ritchie says.

The annual regatta brought together more than 2,000 athletes from more than 116 schools who rowed on Lake Karapiro, Cambridge, from March 24-29.

“This is the largest secondary school sporting event in the southern hemisphere and it is streamed worldwide over the week as heats and repechages progress to quarter, semi and A, B and C finals,” Lizzie said.

The local rowers competed against “the best of the best”, with some standout results.

MAC rowers made two B finals and two C finals with Lola Ritchie placing 14th overall in the girls U18 single sculls, and the boys novice coxed quad of Lachlan Hay, Douglas Wise, Mackenzie Hay, Tyler Gawn (coxed by Emily Hunt) placing 15th overall, Lizzie said. 

MAC’s Maadi 2025 rowers (from left) Tyler Gawn, Lola Ritchie, Lachlan Hay, Mackenzie Hay, Alianna Hay, William Pascoe and Douglas Wise. Lily Garrett and Emily Hunt (coxswain) are not pictured. 

The training programme for the Maadi Regatta began in September 2024 and the rowers have trained hard both on and off the water under the coaching of Rob Bruce, Angus Todd, and Matt Rickard, Lizzie said. 

“The week was a wonderful experience full of the highs and lows of sport at this level, but most importantly the squad supported one another and had enormous fun participating in this revered competition making many new friends in the rowing world”, Lizzie said.

Lizzie gave a ‘huge thank you to sponsors Silver Fern Farms, supporters, parents and coaches for enabling the rowers to be part of this event”.

PHOTOS: Supplied