Maadi Cup and 2026 rowing season highlights

Although there were no medal hauls at Maadi Cup for the St Andrew’s College rowing squad this year, they still achieved some significant results, qualifying for eight A Finals, and seven B Finals, which placed them in the top eight or sixteen in New Zealand in those events.

“We are proud of the efforts shown by our rowing team,” says Head of Values and Culture, Hamish Bell, who oversees the rowing programme. “While results in the finals did not go our way, our crews gave their best in a regatta marked by an exceptionally high standard of rowing, particularly from North Island schools.”

St Andrew’s has one of the largest rowing programmes of co-educational schools in the South Island, with around 73 rowers taking part in South Island events, and 44 rowers competing at Maadi Cup, the largest secondary schools’ regatta in the Southern Hemisphere, with 2200 competitors from 129 schools taking part.

Five St Andrew’s boys’ crews and three girls’ crews made A Finals, with the College’s best result a sixth placing by Noah Hunter and Hugo Millar-Bell (both Y12) in the Boys’ U17 coxless pairs oars. The pair won gold in the same event at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Rowing Championships, and met an unexpected challenge at the national event, says Rowing Manager, Liam Parker.

“Noah and Hunter had raced in the U17 coxed four final just two hours before the pair’s race, so did incredibly well to back up and achieve their sixth placing.”

Liam says the performance of the St Andrew’s eights was another highlight with the Boys’ U16 and U17 coxed eights both making A Finals and finishing eighth, with the Girls’ U16 and U18 coxed eights winning their B Finals.

Overall, St Andrew’s rowers achieved one sixth, two seventh, and five eighth placings in A Finals, with the Girls’ U18 coxless pair oars, Sayler Hedgcock and Charlotte Galvan (both Y13), picking up St Andrew’s other B Finals win.

“Our rowers showed great determination and all put their best foot forward to give themselves a chance to make the A Finals,” says Liam.

Three St Andrew’s rowers, Hugo Millar-Bell, Lauren Bolton (both Y12), and Alanna Brook (Y13) were selected for South Island trials after the event.

Hamish Bell says another highlight of the week was hosting a cocktail party on the lakeside together with Rangi Ruru Girls’ School.

“Around 400 guests from visiting schools came along. Scarlett Ryan (Y13) performed the Address to a Haggis, alongside Piper Emily Brook (Y13), which was very well received by the visiting North Island schools.”

Liam Parker says overall it was a positive season for St Andrew’s rowing, with a lot of development,

and consistent performances.

“We have a large cohort of young rowers who are looking forward to coming back and giving it everything again next season, with some strong leaders emerging on both the boys’ and girls’ side,” he says. “A big thank you to the students, staff, parents, and coaching team, who all put in a lot of effort and hours into the rowing programme at St Andrew’s.”

Maadi Cup A Final results:

• Boys U18 coxless pair oars: Tadhg Molony and Oliver Barker (both Y13): seventh;

• Boys 17 coxed eight: Noah Hunter, Hugo Millar-Bell, Cameron Sharpe, George Barclay, George Flanagan, Bartholomew Ashman, Oliver O’Brien, Logan Scott (all Y12), George Ranken (Y12 – coxswain): eighth;

• Boys U17 coxed four: Cameron Sharpe, George Barclay, Noah Hunter, Hugo Millar-Bell (all Y12), Emily de Joux (Y13 – coxswain): eighth;

• Boys U17 coxless pairs oars: Noah Hunter and Hugo Millar-Bell (both Y12): sixth;

• Boys U16 coxed eight: George Levings, Jesse Saunders, Oscar Wilson, Toby Maw, Seth Overcomer (all Y11), Oliver O’Brien, Logan Scott, Izaak Keen (all Y12), Lucy McWhirter (Y13 – coxswain): eighth;

• Girls U18 coxed four: Chloe Lowe, Katie Taggart, Sayler Hedgcock, Olivia Connor (all Y13), Emily de Joux (Y13 – coxswain): eighth;

• Girls U18 coxless pairs oars: Chloe Lowe, Olivia Connor (both Y13): eighth;

• Girls U17 coxless pair oars: Lauren Bolton (Y12), Alanna Brook (Y13): seventh.

South Island Secondary Schools’ Rowing Championships

The St Andrew’s rowers had a strong lead-up to the Maadi Cup regatta, with excellent results at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Rowing Championships held at Lake Ruataniwha. The squad contested 21 A Finals and four B Finals at the regatta, securing two gold and four silver medals.

Lauren Bolton (Y12) and Alanna Brook (Y13) rowed a commanding race to win gold in the Girls’ U17 pair, carrying their good form to Maadi Cup, where they made the A Final.

St Andrew’s other gold medal was won by Noah Hunter and Hugo Millar-Bell (both Y12) in the Boys’ U17 pair, who defended their South Island title from 2025, when they also won a silver medal at Maadi Cup.

The silver medal winning crews at the 2026 South Island Championships were the Boys’ U18 pair, Boys’ U17 eight, Boys’ U16 eight, and the Girls’ U18 pair.

Other regattas

Earlier in the season, St Andrew’s competed strongly at the Otago Championships, qualifying for 27 A Finals and 16 B Finals and the Canterbury Championships, where they backed up their earlier success with 26 A Final and 16 B Final appearances. The South Island Club Championships was another successful regatta for the squad, which secured 27 A Final appearances, and won six medals, with Charlotte Galvan and Sayler Hedgcock (both Y13) winning gold in the Girls’ U19 pair, silver medals won by the Girls’ U18 eight, and Boys’ U19 pair, with bronze medals won by the Boys’ U17 four, Boys’ U17 single, and Girls’ U17 four.