Next week's Maadi Cup on Lake Karapiro will be the biggest rowing regatta ever held in New Zealand.
More than 14 hundred crews from 120 seconday schools will take part despite the two Canterbury earthquakes threatening the participation of many schools from that area.
Most of the rowing schools in the Christchurch area have been hugely affected, often resorting to a regular seven hour round trip to carry on with their training at Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel or at other areas of rowable water on the South Island.
Some teams have gone even further afield to keep up their efforts - Marian College crews were billeted full time to Tauranga Girls College some weeks ago and have been maintaining their studies and their training as they build towards the regatta.
New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Association Executive Officer Andrew Carr-Smith says the interest in small boats - a discipline of the sport which New Zealand took ten medals at the Karapiro world championships last November - has helped boost entries significantly.
