Rowing: Hamilton eight pip Westlake

Hamilton Boys High School stamped their mark on the national schools rowing championships on Lake Karapiro when they won the Maadi Cup in a nail-biting finish over Westlake Boys High School on Saturday.

Hamilton's second crew lagged at the start of the premier eights race while the first crew, with many among them having had several races already, got off slowly.

Moving into the second half, it was St Paul's, Christ's College and dark horses Westlake that looked the liveliest, with Hamilton tracking them by about a quarter of a length.

Westlake had a half-length lead going into the last 500m, but as Christ's College and St Paul's began to fade, Hamilton raised their rating.

Westlake appeared to respond very late to the push

and in the last 10 strokes Hamilton nudged ahead.

Hamilton crews also won the under-16 eights, had a 1-2 in the under-15 coxed fours, the under-17 eights and the under-16 coxed fours.

In the girls under-18 eights, Rangi Ruru retained the Levin Jubilee Cup in style with a three-length lead.

International sculler Nathan Cohen's younger brother, Hayden, took out the under-17 sculls, just ahead of James Hargest College teammate Ollie Behrent.

- NZPA