College Sport: Westlake pair have point to prove at Maadi

Tessa White-Parsons (left) and Maisie Meiklejohn are ready. Photo / Dean Purcell

Meiklejohn and White-Parsons want to redress NI champs defeat.

At next week's Maadi Cup on Lake Karapiro, two Westlake Girls' High School lightweight double scullers will lie still in the water.

They will compose themselves, focus on their technique and months of training - often twice daily for the past few weeks - listen for the starter's gun, and go for gold.

Maisie Meiklejohn, 16, will be in the bow (or front) of the boat. She will cross the line first. In theory she should be able to see the other crews in their wake, if all goes to plan. Next to her is 17-year-old Tessa White-Parsons, in just her second year as a competitive rower. Both are going to their first Maadi.

"I'm excited at going to my first Maadi. The older rowers have given us a bit of an insight as to what we can expect," says White-Parsons, who also does some part-time modelling. "In a way, it's supposed to be more relaxed than the North Islands, because it's more spread out."

She comes from a strong rowing family, with father Roger an Olympian and two-time world champion in the 1980s, while her mother and sisters also row.

The pair, who will also race the Under 18 quad and U18 lightweight four at Maadi, had a hiccup at the North Island schools champs this month at Karapiro, placing fifth in their specialist double sculls final, struggling with some rough conditions after qualifying with the second fastest time. But they are tall, fit, and right up at the 59kg weight limit for their event.

Meiklejohn is the more experienced of the pair, and she has to make the calls, seated in the bow.

"Being in the bow, you have to see everything. You are effectively the coxswain in the boat," she says.

They seek a consistent stroke, with a high rating, but they are careful not to go crazy, not in a 2km race.

They did have some tangible consolation in taking gold for Westlake GHS at the North Islands in the U18 lightweight four, along with Taylor Catchpole, Holly Gray and Amber Fordham.

Westlake GHS head rowing coach Craig Smith is taking 35 rowers to Maadi, making up 26 crews. They did well last year, winning golds in the U18 and U17 coxed fours, plus three other medals, and placing fifth overall of New Zealand schools, third girls' school, and best in the Auckland region.

Smith was happy with the preparation at the North Island champs in what should be similar conditions, and Westlake pulled in six medals, two of which were gold.

"It was the first time we've had medals across three different age groups, U15s, 16s and 18s. It shows depth across the crews," says Smith.

"The standard of competition at Maadi Cup is world-class. The winning crews could compete anywhere in the world and still do just as well. A lot of schools are putting a lot more resources into the sport. Traditionally it's been a summer or winter sport, but now a lot of schools are employing fulltime coaches like me to run a full-year programme."

He has high hopes for his lightweight double scullers, even after some chastening experiences at the Head of Harbour and North Islands regattas.

"They've got everything. The advantage is that they are really tall. You see most lightweight girl scullers, who might be 5ft 2 and 50kg. They have the leverage. The longer your stroke, the more efficient you are."

There are no guarantees for White-Parsons and Meiklejohn at Maadi Cup. The weather could turn bad, and the South Island crews are something of an unknown quantity. But they will give themselves every show with their natural height, commitment and passion for rowing.