From dominant performances to emotional finishes, the final day of Maadi 2026 delivered it all – including long-awaited victories and races that will be remembered for years to come.
The sixth and final day of the New Zealand Rowing Maadi Regatta dawned in spectacular fashion, with a classic Twizel morning greeting crews and supporters. After yesterday’s wet moments, raincoats and umbrellas were replaced with sunhats and shorts as the regatta moved into its final chapter.
The Girls Under 16 Coxed Quadruple Sculls opened the second day of finals, with Whanganui High School, coxed by Morgan Wood, claiming the first gold medal of the day. It marks back-to-back victories in this event for the school, having also won at Lake Karapiro last year.
For Morgan, it was a special moment in her final Maadi, having also coxed last year’s winning crew. She described the conditions on Lake Ruataniwha: “It was amazing, conditions were perfect, it was incredible. Coming through the 1500m, I reminded the girls of everything they’ve worked for, how much this would mean to them”.
Whanganui High School demonstrating their programmes sculling prowess winning the Girls Under 16 Coxed Quadruple Sculls for the second year in a row. Photo: Picture Show Ltd.
In the Boys Under 16 Double Sculls, Mount Albert Grammar’s Linus Ingram and Caleb Vincent secured gold, but it was the Onslow College crew of Costin Eley and Reuben Andrews who captured the spirit of the regatta with a remarkable sprint to take silver.
Reuben reflected on their race: “At the 1k we weren’t in the position that we wanted, we wanted top four and we weren’t quite there, but we were gaining on the other crews, and so we just kept raising the pressure and building, by the 500 we had caught up to second. It really was such a great final 1000 metres. Winning this medal is so good for the momentum of our club, and it’s a great build from winning the Under 15 Double Sculls last year”.
One of the marquee events of the programme delivered a highly anticipated result, with Cashmere High School’s Eleri Clare producing a class performance to win the Girls Under 18 Single Sculls. Backing up her Under 17 title from last year, Eleri led from start to finish in an emphatic display, crossing the line in 8:03.75.
“It was such a fun race, the start was a bit scary, but after that I could hear the cheers from the coaches and my friends, and then I just had a fun time, it’s been a long season, and it just makes it all worth it, I just love my squad so much”.
Scout Phiskie from St Margaret’s College took silver, with Hamilton Girls’ High School’s Ayla Klein claiming bronze.
Winner of the Girls Under 18 Single Sculls Eleri Clare from Cashmere High School, backing up her Under 17 title from last year. Photo: Sharron Bennett Photography
In the Boys Under 18 Single Sculls, Aidan Bennett capped off an outstanding final season with gold in a time of 7:18.43. Coming into the regatta as South Island title holder and fresh from success at the New Zealand Rowing Championships, Aidan delivered when it mattered most:
“I’m a bit shocked, I just held with the pack all the way to about 750 in, then I made a move through that middle 500, then just held on for dear life. I’m so thankful to our head coach Clayton Lindstrom, he’s been with me all through my years of rowing, he’s certainly pushed me through this year, with prep for nationals and building into Maadi”.
George Benjamin of St Paul’s Collegiate School took silver, with Ted Rattray of Mount Albert Grammar securing bronze.
Aidan Bennett from Marlborough Boys College adds to his medal count this season, securing gold in the Boys Under 18 Single Sculls. Photo: Picture Show Ltd.
Craighead Diocesan School celebrated their first gold of the regatta in the Girls Under 15 Double Sculls, with Kelly van Heerden and Lauren Crawford rowing a strong race to take the win. Wakatipu High School claimed silver, while a special tie for bronze saw both Geraldine High School and St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College step onto the podium in their Maadi debut.
Rangi Ruru’s Charlie Wood coxed her crew to victory in the Girls Under 17 Coxed Eight, retaining the Fairfield Shield in a time of 6:51.93. St Margaret’s College took silver, with Auckland Diocesan finishing in bronze.
St Bede’s College continued their strong form, backing up their Boys Under 17 Coxed Eight victory with gold in the Boys Under 17 Coxed Four. St Kentigern College claimed silver – their first medal of the regatta – while Auckland Grammar took bronze after a tight battle in the closing stages.
It was more novice gold for the Sacred Heart Girls (Hamilton) programme. After winning gold in the Girls Under 18 Novice Double Sculls yesterday, Jade Paki and Casey Paki were joined by Madeline Moore, Tegan Smith and cox Holly Gera to win the Girls Under 18 Novice Coxed Quadruple Sculls.
Holly spoke of the race, “when we got to the 100 metres to go, I told the girls it was our race, push for our squad, it feels pretty unreal to win a gold medal in my first Maadi, it hasn’t sunk in yet”.
Sacred Heart Girls College (Hamilton) and their golden moment. Photo: Picture Show Ltd
Christ’s College backed up their novice gold from yesterday in the Boys Under 18 Novice Coxed Eight, to take home not only gold in the Boys Under 18 Coxed Four, but also the silver medal. Third place went to Kings College.
Hamilton Boys’ High School delivered a dominant performance in the Boys Under 16 Coxed Eight, taking their first gold of the regatta in a time of 6:07.60. King’s College secured silver, with St Peter’s College taking bronze.
Hamilton Boys High School loving their golden moment winning the Boys Under 16 Coxed Eight. Photo: Sharron Bennett Photography
In the Boys Under 17 Pair, St Thomas of Canterbury’s Kyden Barrow and Cairo Horgan produced a superb display to take gold in 7:11.38 – bagging not only their school’s first medal of the regatta, but also its second ever Maadi gold. Tauranga Boys’ College took silver, with Gisborne Boys’ High School also celebrating their first medal of the regatta with bronze.
Cashmere High School ensured their dominance in the Girls Under 18 Coxed Quadruple Sculls continued, claiming the Noel Lynch Trophy for a third consecutive year. Coxed by Ivy O’Meagher, the crew delivered on their goal in style:
“It’s so exciting to win. I just told the girls to go, it’s their last race together, make it count, bring back gold for Cashmere. They are such an upbeat crew, they are always there for each other and backing each other up. In the starting blocks they are so calm telling each other to believe, it’s such a cool crew to be part of”.
In a fitting family connection, Ivy follows in the footsteps of her sister Eliza, who coxed last year’s winning crew. Cashmere crossed the line in 7:22.77, with Columba College taking silver and Cambridge High School bronze.
It’s a three-peat for the crew from Cashmere in the Girls Under 18 Coxed Quadruple Sculls. Photo: Sharron Bennett Photography
As the second-to-last race of the regatta powered down the course, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch. School flags lined the banks, supporters packed shoulder to shoulder, their voices echoing across Lake Ruataniwha.
King’s College entered the race chasing history – aiming to break a 66-year drought and back up their Springbok Shield victory from the day before. From the first strokes, their intent was unmistakable. Exploding off the start, they established early control and by the 1000m mark had stretched their lead to a clear boat length. As they moved through the 1500m, the race was firmly in their hands – you could feel the weight of history carrying them toward the line.
Behind them, the battle for silver and bronze began to unfold. Auckland Grammar and Hamilton Boys’ High School went bow ball for bow ball through the middle stages, before a late surge from St Bede’s College – fresh off their Boys Under 17 Coxed Eight victory – saw them push into contention from lane six.
With 250 metres to go, Auckland Grammar had secured their hold on silver, but St Bede’s continued their charge, finishing strongly to claim bronze.
Speaking afterwards, King’s College coxswain Ayden Miller reflected on what the moment meant:
“I so pleased with the boys, we’ve worked so hard for this moment, we’ve been through an insane journey together. This is my last Maadi and it’s just an insane way to end it, winning the Springbok Shield and now the Maadi Cup, all the boxes are ticked”
“Our plan was to get out fast at the start and control the race from start to finish and we managed to do just that, entering the last 250 gave us a little bit of breathing room. When I called for it I called for another seat was taken, we just did that on repeat. Coming into the last 250 it was just 1% more every stroke on the legs and that just carried us down to the line”.
Kings College, lifting the Maadi Cup for the first time in 66 years, winning in a time of 6:11.26. Picture Show Limited.
In a historic moment for the regatta’s 79-year history, the final race of the day – and of the week – was the Girls Under 18 Coxed Eight, with crews racing for the Levin Jubilee Cup. Adding further significance to the occasion, the race was officiated entirely on water by women.
Chief Umpire Lauren Farnden, who came up with this idea, wanted to acknowledge the significance of the race order change: “In this afternoon’s shift, the five race umpires and the five umpire boat drivers are all women. Lauren explains”
Umpires following the race down the course were Julie O’Connor and Chris Longbottom, Lauren adds: “Julie is one of our women umpires of long standing, she’s cool, calm, making sure the rules are always implemented. Chris is one of our amazing volunteers based here in Twizel, she’s been boat driving for years, she helped put together the parade last Sunday and she also volunteers as a national technical officer to international regattas. It’s quite a privilege that, with the Levin Jubilee Cup being the final race of the day for the first time in Maadi Regatta history, the umpires and boat drivers will be all female.”
Our amazing female umpires and boat drivers for the Levin Jubilee race: Carolyn Armstrong, Mandy Verett, Julie O’Connor, Chris Longbottom, Georgia McConchie- Murray (trainee umpire), Christine Moffat, Krysten Munro (Australia), Gendie Woods, Nessie McIvor, Lauren Farnden, Michele Hawke, Photo: Sharron Bennett Photography
In the race for the Levin Jubilee Cup, Waikato Diocesan made their intentions clear from the opening strokes. A clean, fast start saw them establish early control through the first 250 metres, with Rangi Ruru matching them stride for stride.
By the 500m mark, St Margaret’s College and Christchurch Girls’ High School remained firmly in contention, keeping the pressure on in a tightly packed field. But as the crews moved through the 1000m, the shape of the race began to emerge.
Through the third 500, Rangi Ruru and St Margaret’s fought valiantly to stay in touch, but Waikato Diocesan continued to extend their lead, executing a composed and commanding race to make it their own. They crossed the line to take gold in a time of 6:53.13, with Rangi Ruru securing silver and St Margaret’s College claiming bronze.
Waikato Diocesan last won the Levin Jubilee Cup in 2014, Coxswain Kiri Ormsby said how much it meant to her: “this is so surreal, this honestly doesn’t feel real. We’ve been working for this the whole season and it’s such an achievement, I can’t believe we’ve actually gone and done it. I love them so much, they are my best friends, I spend so much time with them, I’ve gone through four years of rowing with most of them, and I just love and trust them with everything in me”.
Of the race, Kiri relayed the race plan that played out: “We had a really strong start which is something we’ve been focusing on a lot. I told the girls to just keep pushing, I wanted more seats, we just wanted to go as hard as we could in that first k and they did that so amazingly, they were so brave and really pushed”.
It’s all smiles for Waikato Diocesan, winners of the Levin Jubilee Cup, Photo: Sharron Bennett Photography
The star trophy for overall champion Secondary School was won by Waikato Diocesan on 43 points, with Kings College in second place on 32 points and Rangi Ruru and Wakatipu tied in third with 31 points.
The Executive Trophy for Champion sweep oar school was won by Waikato Diocesan School on 43 points, with Kings College and Rangi Ruru tied for 2nd on 31 points.
The Presidents Scull was won by Wakatipu High School on 31 points, with Whanganui High School second with 23 points and St Paul’s Collegiate School on 19 points.
And with that, the 79th Maadi Regatta draws to a close. A week defined by exceptional racing, hard-fought victories, and athletes pushing beyond what they thought possible.
As the sun sets over Lake Ruataniwha, one thing is certain – the memories made here will stay with every athlete and supporter long after the final race has been rowed.
Full results are available at www.rowit.nz
Livestream coverage available at https://rowingnz.kiwi/livestream/ or https://www.youtube.com/@rowingnz/streams
Liz Inglis is a content creator and photographer based in Christchurch. As well as being a rowing parent, she is also a masters rower for the Avon Rowing Club.