College sport: Northerners play catch-up

Auckland schools have a lot of work ahead of them if they are to challenge for the major senior titles at the Maadi Cup rowing regatta.

After the first two days of heats and repechages at Lake Karapiro, South Islanders have emerged as the favourites, and Waikato-based schools are their main challengers.

The remaining repechages are today and the early finals are tomorrow and Friday.

The major finals, such as the Maadi Cup for under-19 eights, are on Saturday afternoon.

The organisers of the regatta may be looking for a new venue if the event continues to expand.

Close to 1800 rowers are taking part this year and it will not be long before there are 2000 competing, says Craig Bocock, president of the Waikato-Bay of Plenty secondary schools rowing association.

"We really can't grow too much more in the current format," Bocock said.

"We're racing from 8am-6pm, when a 4pm finish would be optimum."

Options may include holding pre-qualifying regattas or to limit schools to just one crew per event.

GYMNASTICS

College students dominate the training squad that will form the basis for New Zealand's team to the artistic world championships in Anaheim in August.

Of the eight gymnasts, six are still at school. Kate Brocklehurst attends Baradene College, Belinda Castles is a student at St Cuthberts, Ellena Emo attends Mt Roskill Grammar and Ailish Nolan is at Westlake.

Pukekohe High School 15-year-olds Melynne Rameka and Antonia Daroux are also included.

The two non-students in the team are Alethea and Nicki Wells.

The gymnasts will attend an Easter training camp at the North Harbour Gymnastics Centre.

The squad will then travel to Melbourne from May 27-31 to compete in the Australian Championships.

CRICKET

Epsom Girls Grammar were emphatic winners over Pukekohe in the final of the zone 2 competition.

Epsom batted first and recorded 252-4, Katie Glynn scoring 93 and Sarah Jack 68 in an unbeaten partnership of 199 runs.

In reply, Pukekohe collapsed for just 39 under a barrage of good bowling. Bhakti Patel took three wickets for one run and Lucy Akroyd conceded just six runs for her three wickets.

Epsom now play the winner of zone one (Northland/North Harbour) to qualify for the national final to be played at Palmerston North at the end of the year.

SWIMMING

The Auckland Champion of Champions event takes place at the Waitakere Aquatic Centre in Henderson tomorrow.

Rising stars include Corney Swanepoel from Rangitoto College and Melissa Ingram of Epsom.

SPORT CLIMBING

Julian Pawley, of Birkenhead College, was close to home when he won the senior boys' title at this year's first climbing event.

A large number of competitors from 10 schools took part in the competition at the Birkenhead Leisure Centre.

Kitty Xu, of Epsom, won the senior girls event ahead of Christine Gunn, from Northcote, and Sophie MacDougall, of Mt Roskill Grammar.

GOLF

Westlake and Rangitoto will clash in Monday's Auckland premier golf competition final.

Westlake, led by Kevin Chun, qualified by defeating Auckland Grammar 41 1/2 to 30 1/2 in their semifinal. Rangitoto beat St Kentigern 38-34.