PHOTO; Riordan Morrell rows away from the podium after his Gold medal presentation

“Go Big Red!”

With the spectator crowds lining the edge of Lake Karapiro; chanting “Go Big Red!”, Riordan Morrell, pulled his last long strokes, and cruised effortlessly over the line, to win first place in the prestigious Boys Under 18 Single sculls, at the 2011 AON Maadi Cup regatta at Karapiro today.

Western Heights High School rower, Morrell, was in third place, for most of the race of his secondary school rowing career, but as he crossed the 1500 metre mark, he made a decided push and by 1750 metres, was going to have the Gold. With the competition having fallen behind in the last 250 metres, Morrell, finished almost 3 boat lengths in front, in a time of 7:17.30 minutes, and over 6 seconds ahead of St Peter’s College (2^nd) and Marlborough Boys College in (3^rd).

There was some concern, earlier in the week, as Morrell, who won Gold, in this event, at the North Island School Championships a month ago, came an unlikely third in his heat This meant he had to row the repechage and the semi final, before gaining entry into the A Final of the NZ Secondary School Rowing Championships (also known as the AON Maadi Cup). Morrell was philosophical; recovering from a cold at the start of the week, he knew he could regain the strength he needed, as the week went on.

Riordan is coached by Alastair Riddle, Head Coach of the Rotorua Rowing Club . Riddle was coach for Julia Edward – Rotorua’s 2011 Halberg Award ‘Emerging Talent’ finalist. Riordan also rowed club races with the Bay of Plenty Rowing Academy and Rotorua coach Rob Francis.

Western Heights High School came away with the only 2 medals of the week-long regatta. Riordan Morrell’s Gold medal for Boys Under 18 Single Sculls and Silver for the Girls Under 15 coxed quad; Stacey Tamblin (stroke), Emma Cronshaw-Hunt, Hannah Cox, Alice West, Morgan McHale (cox),coached by Chris Pearson.

Claudia Hyde, John Paul College, one of Rotorua’s top rowers, finished a very disappointing 1.07 seconds short of a medal in 4^th place, in the Under 18 Singles sculls. Claudia is coached by Rob Francis.

Results for the 2011 MAADI CUP.

PLACE     CREW                                      TIME

GIRLS UNDER-15 COXED QUADRUPLE SCULLS A FINAL                              

2              Western Heights HS 1          7:40.87                   

                Stacey Tamblin (stroke), Emma Cronshaw-Hunt, Hannah Cox, Alice West, Morgan McHale (cox).

                Coach-Chris Pearson.                                               

6              John Paul College 1                 7:49.54                  

                Olivia Ashby (stroke), Grace Eriksen, Georgina Hyde, Angela O'Sullivan, Willow Sperry (cox),

                Coach-Chris Pearson.                                               

GIRLS UNDER-17 COXED QUADRUPLE SCULLS B FINAL            

5              John Paul College 1                7:44.31                     

                Annalise Wilson (stroke) , Natalie Hill ,Emily Hodge, Sarah Freeman , Delaney Phillips (cox).

                Coach - Glen Reichardt

BOYS UNDER-18 DOUBLE SCULLS  A FINAL

6              Western Heights HS 1              7:01.41  

                Hugh Spiers, Riordan Morrell Coach - Alastair Riddle,

BOYS UNDER-18 NOVICE COXED FOUR B FINAL          

9              John Paul College 1                 7:11.78

                Keiran Vandergoot (stroke), Matt Hanson,Ross Howard , Jonathan Hoskins, Shannon Boyce (cox)    

                Coaches - Harry Ashby, Rotorua Rowing Club Coaches

GIRLS UNDER-16 COXED QUADRUPLE SCULLS  B FINAL           

3              Rotorua Girls HS 1                  7:39.56                     

                Helen Payne (stroke), Samantha Grace, Greer Murray , Gisele Foster, Tara Moberly (cox).

                Coach - Alastair Riddle

GIRLS UNDER-18 SINGLE SCULLS A FINAL   

4              John Paul College 1                 8:01.17  

                Claudia Hyde. Coach - Rob Francis

BOYS UNDER-18 SINGLE SCULLS  A FINAL   

1              Western Heights HS 1          7:17.30  

                Riordan Morrell. Coach - Alastair Riddle

GIRLS UNDER-15 DOUBLE SCULLS  A FINAL               

 5             John Paul College 1                 8:02.85  

                Grace Eriksen, Olivia Ashby. Coach Chris Pearson.                                               

GIRLS UNDER-15 DOUBLE SCULLS  B FINAL                

 5             Western Heights HS 1             8:16.47   

                Emma Cronshaw-Hunt, Stacey Tamblin. Coach Chris Pearson.                                               

6              Western Heights HS 2              8:19.18  

                Hannah Cox,Alice West. Coach Chris Pearson.                                               

BOYS UNDER-18 LIGHTWEIGHT DOUBLE SCULLS  A FINAL       

5              John Paul College 1                7:05.62   

                Jakob Zohs, Callum Taft. Coaches - Alastair Riddle

BOYS UNDER-18 NOVICE DOUBLE SCULLS A FINAL   

8              Western Heights HS 1             7:40.85  

                Daniel Cronshaw-Hunt and Sam West. Coach EJ Reichardt

BOYS UNDER-16 SINGLE SCULLS  B FINAL   

7              Rotorua Boys HS 1                  8:03.72                  

                Keegan Oxenham .Coach - Alastair Riddle