Ashburton College rower Mollie Gibson stunned a top-class field in the under-17 singles at Lake Ruataniwha on Saturday. Photo suppied.Ashburton College is celebrating another golden Maadi rowing regatta, with 16-year-old Mollie Gibson leading the medal haul with three golds and a bronze.

Veronica Wall, 18, also banked three golds in her last Maadi.

College had crews in six A finals and 3 B finals following a torrid day of semi-finals after wind and freezing temperatures interrupted rowing at Lake Ruataniwha earlier in the week.

Gibson’s schedule was brutal as she attempted to medal in the under-17 singles, the under-17 and 18 quad and under-17 and 18 doubles.

Her gold medal in the under-17 singles was testament to her fitness, discipline and mental toughness as she came from third with 500m to go and eclipsed rowers from Southland Girls’ High School and rowing powerhouse St Peter’s to take the title.

Gibson, who posted an impressive winning time of 8.23.38, also won for her school a new skiff and a set of new sculls donated by Maadi sponsor Aon and Laszlo Boats.

Aon’s Russell Bailey said the boats, also awarded to the winner of the boys’ under-17 singles sculls, were to recognise rowing excellence in that age-group.

“Jack (Jack McLaughlan from John McGlashan College) and Mollie each made impressive performances to take away gold and we are proud to be a part of their event.”

Gibson started the day on a golden note, teaming up with Wall to win the under-18 double scull, then won bronze in the under-17 coxed quad with Emma Stagg, Aidan Elvines, Lara Biggs and cox Harriet Leverton before taking to the water for the single scull.

She was also joined Wall, Stagg, Biggs and Leverton to win the under 18 coxed quad in an exciting close finish.

Wall was in a class of her own in the under-18 single scull, helping Ashburton College to seventh place in the overall medal standings from 120 schools.

Haxby Hefford battled sickness to finish seventh in the A final of the boys under-18 singles, while Harrison Davies was fifth in the B final.

Aidan Elvines and Kauri Gamble were fifth in the B final of the girls’ novice under 18 double sculls.

Proud principal Ross Preece said Ashburton College was the top co-ed school and the medals and other results recognised the hard work, dedication and top coaching (from Justin Wall) they had.

“And the best thing about our rowing programme is that it is affordable.

At other schools, rowing can cost $6500 a year, but ours is more like $600 because parents get on board and support the fundraising.

“We have a great fleet of boats and the best coach in the country … and he is a volunteer coach.”

The Maadi Cup regatta is the national championship for school rowing and New Zealand’s largest rowing regatta with over 2200 rowers.

The actual Maadi Cup is awarded to the winner of the boys’ under 18 eight – and it was won by Christ’s College, who pulled away from Hamilton Boys’ High School in the last 250 metres of the race to win in 6.01.90.

By Linda Clarke © The Ashburton Guardian - 26 March 2018