St Andrews College made history by winning their maiden Maadi Cup title at the National Seconday School Rowing Championships on Lake Karapiro.
St Andrews rowing eight Photo: PHOTOSPORT
On a day when the sport paid tribute to former Olympic champion and large-than-life rowing personality Dudley Storey, the crews did not disappoint on a thrilling final day of action.
On Friday St Andrews four crushed the opposition to land the Springbok Shield and with all five triumphant crew members returning to bolster the eights the "Scotsmen of the South" delivered in the marquee event.
St Andrews held a third-of-a-length lead at 1000m but leading into the final quarter Christ's College had inched ahead and the defending champions appeared poised for victory.
Yet somehow they responded to haul themselves past Christ's College to pulled off an historic 0.98 second victory from Christ's - the 11-time former champions - who on this occasion had to settle for silver.
Bronze went to Hamilton Boys High - the winners of the Star Trophy as most successful overall school in the regatta.
Diocesan School for Girls mounted a perfectly timed successful defence of the Levin Jubilee Cup with a performance forged in sheer class. The Auckland-based school trailed St Margarets by a canvas at the 1500m mark but a searing late push for the line delivered a momentous victory by a margin of exactly three seconds in a time of 6:55.09.
