Editorial: Maadi Cup successes hopes of future glory

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

YOU have probably heard of Rebecca Scown ... and you've quite probably heard of Philippa Baker-Hogan.

Former Collegiate girl Scown is a world championship rowing gold medallist and an Olympic bronze medallist in London; Philippa Baker in 1991 was the first New Zealand woman rower to win a world championship, and made the finals at two Olympic Games.

Now try a few other names - Georgia Nugent-O'Leary, Jackie Gowler, Kayla Spencer, Inga Schwietring ...

Okay, not as familiar as Scown and Baker-Hogan but expect them to ring a few bells in years to come. If all goes well, we will hear a lot more of them.

They are just part of the latest crop of young Wanganui athletes making waves in the rowing world. Last week, they all struck gold in the Maadi Cup, the New Zealand schools rowing championships and among the toughest competitions in domestic school sport.

They were the icing on the cake in one of Wanganui's finest efforts at the championships.

Spencer and Schwietring - part of a record 41-strong Wanganui High School squad - won the under-16 double sculls; Nga Tawa Diocesan duo Nugent-O'Leary and Gowler took out the under-18 version.

In addition, Nugent O'Leary clocked a remarkable second, two fourths and a fifth place in A finals; Gowler added a second, fourth and fifth; and Spencer had second and sixth placings.

And, of course, if you are at the top in New Zealand rowing, you are pretty near the top in world terms such is the Kiwis' strong hand in the sport.

Is it too much to hope we will be cheering these girls on in Olympic finals in future? I don't think so.

Also note that all of them were coached by Ian Weenink of the Aramoho club.

The only remaining question: where were the boys?