Maadi 2007 all set to go

Maadi 2007 all set to go

The largest schools sports event in New Zealand and the largest regatta in the Southern Hemisphere kicks off on Monday when Maadi Cup 2007 gets under way at Lake Karapiro.

Racing will take place from Monday with the major finals being held on Friday and Saturday after heats, quarter finals, semi finals and repecharges for the busy young athletes. The Maadi Cup itself – for Under 18 Men’s Eights – will be the final of the event and be decided at 4.10pm on Saturday.

Hundreds of schools and thousands of youngsters will take part during the week in all heavyweight and lightweight sculling and rowing categories.

The Maadi Cup is actually the prize for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Boys' Under 18 Rowing Eights but it has become the colloquial name given to the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Regatta, at which the Maadi Cup is the premier event. Other top prizes at the regatta are the Springbok Shield, Levin Jubilee Cup, Dawn Cup and Star Trophy.

For the young athletes taking part, the event is the climax of a busy and tiring rowing season. “This week represents the end of many long months of training by the rowers and the endless hours of support by coaches, parents, supporters, volunteers and officials,” explained the President of the Secondary Schools Rowing Association, Trudy Keys.

“With the recent success of New Zealand on the world rowing scene it is good to see that the event is continuing to grow and that we actually have junior world champions competing.”

Year Maadi Cup Springbok Shield Star Trophy
2000 Wanganui Collegiate School St Paul's Collegiate School Rangi Ruru Girls' School
2001 Wanganui Collegiate School Wellington College St Margaret's College
2002 St Paul's Collegiate School Westlake Boys' High School St Margaret's College
2003 St Paul's Collegiate School St Paul's Collegiate School St Margaret's College
2004 Wanganui Collegiate School Wanganui Collegiate School St Margaret's College
2005 Hamilton Boys' High School Hamilton Boys' High School Hamilton Boys' High School
2006 Christ's College Hamilton Boys' High School Rangi Ruru Girls' School

Schools Rowing

Inter-school rowing began with a four-oared race in fixed seat clinker boats over one mile at the Wellington Regatta on February 23rd 1889. There were three entries: Wanganui Collegiate, Wellington College and St Patrick’s College, but St Patrick’s were excluded for boating two college masters! Wanganui Collegiate won by three quarters of a length. No further inter-school rowing took place until 1903 when Wanganui Collegiate travelled to Nelson and were beaten by Nelson College. However, an annual four-oared race with Wellington College began in 1907 and continued until 1911, with all five races being won by Wanganui College.

Maadi Cup
The cup was originally the gift of Dr Youssef Bahgat of the Cairo Rowing Club, Egypt, who presented it to the Maadi Camp Rowing Club as a token of friendship between members of the Cairo Rowing Club and

© Scoop Media