SPORT Rowing
MiC: Henry Smith Coaches: Tony O’Connor, Malcolm McIntyre, Dr Andrew Taylor, Nathan Luff, Jack Chapman, Liam O’Leary The 2022–2023 rowing season will be remembered for what might have been. It was a season filled with frustrations, illness, and inconsistencies. With rowing returning to a more normal post- Covid-19 existence, everyone was readjusting to a ‘normal’ training life. For those who were there, the brave final race of the 2023 NZSSRA Maadi Cup regatta will long be remembered for the courage and bravery shown by the College 1st eight. Once again, the early season focus was taken off ‘winning’ and placed on development and accountability. With a new group of U18s, the
coaching team looked to build on the previous season’s experience and integrated the small U17s group into a ‘senior squad’. In each session, the boys were boated in different combinations and these crews were trained side by side to simulate racing conditions. The purpose of this system was to promote healthy competition among the boys, as well as develop a group who was adaptable to rowing in different boats and very skilled. The racing season began properly in November with the annual Pennant regatta on Kerr’s Reach. This was a welcome opportunity for the club to host its open day and welcome friends and families into the shed for a look around while also watching fun and friendly racing. The club also took the opportunity
to run mixed eight crews with St Margaret’s College. Senior boys and girls drew names out of a hat and then raced in these crews. This racing brought fun and laughter as the crews battled each other for victory and bragging rights. The first major regatta of the season was the Otago Championships. The regatta was preceded by a week- long training camp in Twizel. The camp was the first opportunity for the coaches to test the boys and determine where they were ranked within the club. To keep with the philosophy of development and accountability, College entered crews in a wide variety of events, including the open men’s classes. This punt from the coaches resulted in some excellent early racing for the boys. With the regatta falling at the end of
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Register 2023 Sport
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