Rowers blow records out of water

Results from this year’s North Island Secondary School Championships (NISSC) at Lake Karapiro show the MAGSROW squad put in their best performance since the rowing programme was re-established at MAGS in 2008.

MAGSROW achieved eight podium placings across the boys and girls NISSC events, vying against 1440 competitors from North Island secondary schools.

The squad won five golds, finishing first in the Boys U18 Coxed Four, Boys U18 Coxless Pair Oars, Girls U17 Coxless Pair Oars, Boys U17 Coxless Pair Oars and the Boys U16 Coxed Four.

MAGSROW also won silver in the Boys U18 Coxed Eight and bronze in the Girls U18 Coxed Eight and Boys U18 Coxless Pair Oars.

Tallying the MAGSROW medal haul for this year’s NISSC regatta, MAGS was fourth overall (for boys and girls events) on the medal table and earned 30 points. At the last NISS event – held in 2020 – MAGS was 25th overall and earned six points.

MAGSROW also put in an impressive performance at the Head of Harbour regatta held at Lake Pupuke last weekend (March 19), earning seven gold, four silver and five bronze medals.

It was almost a clean sweep in the coxed eight events, with the U18 Boys, U16 Girls and U16 Boys all winning gold, and the U18 Girls winning silver.

The squad also took out gold in the Boys U18 Coxless Pair, Boys U16 Coxed Four and the Girls U15 Double Sculls.

Silver medal finishes were awarded to MAGSROW in the Boys U18 Coxless Pair, and the Girls U18 and U17 Coxed Four events.

The squad secured bronze medals in the Girls U18 Coxless Pair, Boys U17 Double Sculls, Girls U17 Coxed Quadruple Sculls and the Boys U16 Double Sculls.

MAGSROW Head Coach Alice Denyer says the squad’s achievements this year have made her incredibly proud.

“Our squad have committed to their training and their team-mates, and that is showing up in their performances on the water.

“MAGS has a strong rowing history and this squad is helping to grow that legacy."