PHOTO; (73) WHHS front TE KAUWHATA back . Girls under 15 coxed quad WHHS ; cox;Morgan McHale, Emma Cronshaw-Hunt, Hannah Cox, Alice West,  stroke Stacey Tamblin

“Totally rapt!”

Chris Pearson, coach of the Western Heights High School Under 15 Girls coxed Quad; cox; Morgan McHale, Emma Cronshaw-Hunt, Hannah Cox, Alice West,  stroke Stacey Tamblin, has good reason to be “totally rapt!” His young quad, which started rowing this season, succeeded in taking Silver at the ‘2011 Aon Maadi Cup’ (N2011 NZ Secondary School Rowing Championships ) at Karapiro today.

“ I expected them to go close “ said Pearson proudly “ and I knew they’d be in the mix, but...” he added  “...Craighead were good.”

 Pearson coaches two Under 15 Girls coxed quad crews. His more experienced, 2^nd year, John Paul College crew of Olivia Ashby(Stroke), Angela O’Sullivan, Georgina Hyde, Grace Eriksen and Willow Sperry (cox) vied for a medal position through the early half of the race. JPC battled down the 2000m course along with Burnside High School, Craighead Diosecan School, Te Kauwhata College and Auckland’s Diocesan School For Girls, but within seconds of the 1575m mark, JPC had been had overtaken by their rival- WHHS.

The WHHS crew had powered from the back, relieving JPC of their 3^rd place position. Carrying on through, WHHS closed in fast on the 2^nd place crew. Te Kauwhata College and Western Heights High School hit the finish line together; following the race winner; Craighead Diosecan School, who had lead the 8 crews for most of race.

The 3 crews were about to step onto the podium, when a ‘photo finish’ announcement decided Te Kauwhata College and Western Heights High School both crossed the line in 7:40:87minutes, and 2 Silver medals would be awarded. No Bronze medal is given in these very rare circumstances. John Paul College finished 6^th .