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Development aim of the game in rowing’s long journey
On the day an inspirational athlete achieves a significant first, those in her footsteps begin their own quest for greatness.
In August 2016, a young sculler from Ashburton College lined up for a semifinal in the New Zealand Women's Quad at the U19 World Championships in Rotterdam.
In March of that year, she'd won four gold medals at Maadi Regatta not too far from home at Lake Ruataniwha.
First in the U16, U17 and U18 Single Sculls, and to cap it off, the U18 Quad title as well.
In the Rotterdam semifinal she, Jessica Turfrey, Claudia Macdonald and Brylie Gordon finished third to qualify for the A Final, where they were pipped for bronze.
Yesterday, almost nine years to the day, Veronica Wall, was named in the New Zealand Women's Quad to go to the World Championships in Shanghai this September. It will be her first senior worlds.
Veronica has achieved some incredible things across those nine years. Rowing's a long journey.
Overnight, another New Zealand crew was just beginning their journey in the semifinals of the Women's Quad at the U19 World Championships in Trakai, Lithuania.
Stroke Eleri Clare won the U17 Single for Cashmere High School at Maadi Regatta in March. Sadie Mason was second in the U18 Double for Twizel Area School. Charlotte Peterson won silver in Marian College colours in the U18 Single. Waikato Diocesan's Angalla Carney won the gold.
Athletes all with pedigree and ambitions. But the challenge was immense - a re-match against European champions Poland from the heat in which both crews appeared to row within themselves, European bronze medallists Romania across in lane five and a quick Great Britain crew, who both raced at full throttle in their heat.
Just two seconds separated the first five crews through the 500m, with Poland leading and New Zealand in fifth. The margin widened to five seconds at the 1000m, New Zealand still in fifth.
Poland crossed first in 6.36.82 and will go into tonight's A Final as favourites. New Zealand finished fourth in 6.51.89 and will race the B Final at 6.58pm tonight (NZT).
The women's quad of Eleri Clare, Cashmere High School (stroke),Sadie Mason, Twizel Area School, Charlotte Peterson, Marian College and Angalla Carney, Waikato Diocesan will race in the B Final after finishing fourth in their semifinal.
The first part of the journey is over for the Women's Four of Aine Leeson, Coco Flood, Maclaine Stuart and Lilly Grant after they won the C Final in a three-boat race with Lithuania and Denmark.
New Zealand led from start to finish to cross in 7.10.51. Denmark was second in 7.16.76, Lithuania crossed in 7.21.34.
"It was nice to be in control of the race today and be able to focus on our boat and what we could do to get the best out of our race," says Aine. "We were able to get on a long and strong rhythm and push away from the other crews. Overall, the race was really successful, with us really coming together for the last 500m."
It's a long game this rowing and time is on their side.
Our Women's Four of Aine Leeson, Coco Flood, Maclaine Stuart and Lilly Grant won the C Final in a three-boat race with Lithuania and Denmark.
Andy Hay
Andy Hay is a freelance producer, writer and Maadi Cup-winning coach. He was cox of the world champion New Zealand eight of 1982 and '83. He is NZ Olympian #446.
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- Home
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- International Regattas
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- Development aim of...
Development aim of the game in rowing’s long journey
On the day an inspirational athlete achieves a significant first, those in her footsteps begin their own quest for greatness.
In August 2016, a young sculler from Ashburton College lined up for a semifinal in the New Zealand Women's Quad at the U19 World Championships in Rotterdam.
In March of that year, she'd won four gold medals at Maadi Regatta not too far from home at Lake Ruataniwha.
First in the U16, U17 and U18 Single Sculls, and to cap it off, the U18 Quad title as well.
In the Rotterdam semifinal she, Jessica Turfrey, Claudia Macdonald and Brylie Gordon finished third to qualify for the A Final, where they were pipped for bronze.
Yesterday, almost nine years to the day, Veronica Wall, was named in the New Zealand Women's Quad to go to the World Championships in Shanghai this September. It will be her first senior worlds.
Veronica has achieved some incredible things across those nine years. Rowing's a long journey.
Overnight, another New Zealand crew was just beginning their journey in the semifinals of the Women's Quad at the U19 World Championships in Trakai, Lithuania.
Stroke Eleri Clare won the U17 Single for Cashmere High School at Maadi Regatta in March. Sadie Mason was second in the U18 Double for Twizel Area School. Charlotte Peterson won silver in Marian College colours in the U18 Single. Waikato Diocesan's Angalla Carney won the gold.
Athletes all with pedigree and ambitions. But the challenge was immense - a re-match against European champions Poland from the heat in which both crews appeared to row within themselves, European bronze medallists Romania across in lane five and a quick Great Britain crew, who both raced at full throttle in their heat.
Just two seconds separated the first five crews through the 500m, with Poland leading and New Zealand in fifth. The margin widened to five seconds at the 1000m, New Zealand still in fifth.
Poland crossed first in 6.36.82 and will go into tonight's A Final as favourites. New Zealand finished fourth in 6.51.89 and will race the B Final at 6.58pm tonight (NZT).
The women's quad of Eleri Clare, Cashmere High School (stroke),Sadie Mason, Twizel Area School, Charlotte Peterson, Marian College and Angalla Carney, Waikato Diocesan will race in the B Final after finishing fourth in their semifinal.
The first part of the journey is over for the Women's Four of Aine Leeson, Coco Flood, Maclaine Stuart and Lilly Grant after they won the C Final in a three-boat race with Lithuania and Denmark.
New Zealand led from start to finish to cross in 7.10.51. Denmark was second in 7.16.76, Lithuania crossed in 7.21.34.
"It was nice to be in control of the race today and be able to focus on our boat and what we could do to get the best out of our race," says Aine. "We were able to get on a long and strong rhythm and push away from the other crews. Overall, the race was really successful, with us really coming together for the last 500m."
It's a long game this rowing and time is on their side.
Our Women's Four of Aine Leeson, Coco Flood, Maclaine Stuart and Lilly Grant won the C Final in a three-boat race with Lithuania and Denmark.
Andy Hay
Andy Hay is a freelance producer, writer and Maadi Cup-winning coach. He was cox of the world champion New Zealand eight of 1982 and '83. He is NZ Olympian #446.
