Olivia Tattersfield Makes History: First Girls' Gold at Maadi Cup and a Legacy for MAGSROW

On Friday the 22nd of March at 3:30pm Olivia Tattersfield lined up in the A final of theunder 17 single sculls at Maadi Cup. Eight minutes and eight seconds later she made Mt Albert Grammar School history by winning the first girls gold medal in a national rowing regatta. She fought hard, pulling in front for the last couple of meters of the race, showing her incredible resilience and determination. This triumph was only two hours after she, and Lily Curnow had won a silver medal in the girls under 18 pair.

In a tradition started by AON and Lazlo boats in 2018, the winner of the boys and girls under 17 single sculls each wins a single skiff for their school. This is unique to this race and is designed to help schools provide top quality boats for their athletes. The small boat events are often very competitive and top equipment is scarce.

Olivia’s win is an incredible achievement for both her and the MAGSROW program. Olivia has been a role model for her peers and younger rowers in the program both on and off the water and this boat stamps her legacy on the girl’s squad. We thank Olivia for all the time and hard work she’s given to the MAGSROW program, and wish her all the best in her future rowing endeavours - both at North Shore this season, and in the United States next year, when she commences her rowing scholarship.

Sunday, 24 November 2024 we held a boat naming ceremony for the new boat where, at Olivia’s request, her boat was christened the ‘Otat’ which is the name that her crewmates call her. Olivia was the first rower to use the boat, showing our younger rowers how smooth and gracefully she moves the boat. The rowers are very excited to take it out onto the Whau river and try it for themselves!