Rising rowing star Veronica Wall has been named as a finalist for Canterbury Young Sportswoman of the Year.Ashburton rower, Veronica Wall has been named as a finalist for Canterbury Young Sportswoman of the Year.

The Ashburton College student, who has taken the rowing world by storm, was named as one of four finalists in the category this week joining fellow stars; Jessie Anderson (Hockey), Lily Marshall (Netball) and Kate Smith (Cycling).

The announcement from Sports Canterbury this week is just another in a long list of achievements for the rising rowing star as she continues her whirlwind elevation up the ranks of rowing.

2016 was a big year for Wall.

Her four gold medals at the Maadi Cup on Lake Ruataniwha near Twizel caught the attention of plenty including Canterbury Rowing legend John Wylie.

“She’s a very long, powerful, methodical, maximum-effort rower. She has long strokes and takes it right through to the body,” he said after her Maadi Cup efforts.

“She works every inch of the way and she’s a very powerful young lady.”

Wall’s list of victories at the Maadi Cup came courtesy of capturing the under-16, under-17 and under-18 single sculls titles, to go along with another first placing in the under-18 coxed quadruple sculls with her Ashburton College crew.

Already crowned Aoraki Sportswoman of the Year, Wall will be favoured to go close to claiming the title at the March 3 awards – a night where she will get to mix it with some of the big names of sport. Paralympian Sophie Pascoe will be heavily favoured to win the Supreme Sportswoman of the Year award while All Blacks captain, Kieran Read should claim the Sportsman title.

Former Ashburton swimming coach, Roly Crichton is a finalist for coach of the year, largely through his efforts with multiple Paralympic champion, Pascoe.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 14 January 2017