Rowing: Record numbers for Maadi Cup

New Zealand's largest secondary school sporting event has drawn record interest, with 1791 rowers to compete at the annual Maadi Cup regatta on Lake Karapiro, Waikato starting this weekend.

Rowing New Zealand chief executive Craig Ross attributed the record numbers to the strong performance of New Zealand's rowers at last year's Olympic Games, particularly gold medal-winning twins Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell.

"They have become iconic role models for our sport," Ross said.

The twins and other elite New Zealand rowers will speak to the students at forums throughout the week-long regatta to encourage them to stay with the sport upon leaving school.

Competition runs from Sunday to Saturday next week and has attracted 787 boys and 1004 girls.

The biggest attendance is from Auckland's Takapuna Grammar, with 54 competitors. The largest boys school is Hamilton Boys High with 49 rowers and the the largest girls contingent is from St Margarets College of Christchurch with 40.

- NZPA