Gold for New Zealand at the World Rowing Junior Championships
At the conclusion of the 2019 World Rowing Junior Championships, three of New Zealand’s four crews made A Finals, with the women’s quad taking gold.
Women’s Quad (JW4x) - A Final - Gold
After placing first in their women’s quad heat and A/B semi-final, Eva Hofmans (Bayfield High School), Rebecca Leigh (St Peter's School, Cambridge), Shakira Mirfin (Southland Girls' High School) and Phoebe Trolove (Craighead Diocesan School) were in the lead of the A Final from 1000m and comfortably ahead of Germany in second place. With Germany and Romania in third unable to close the gap, the New Zealand crew crossed the line first and took gold in at time of 06:54.32, 2.39 seconds ahead of Germany, who took silver. Romania took bronze.
Hofmans, Leigh, Mirfin and Trolove are coached by Hannah Starnes.
“I loved the second 500 meters in our race! We pushed into the lead and held well together. I’m over the moon with the result!” Rebecca Leigh
Quote supplied by World Rowing
Women’s Four (JW4-) - A Final
New Zealand’s Charlotte Darry (St Margaret's College), Alison Mills (St. Paul's Collegiate), Lucy Burrell (Baradene College) and Sally Wylaars (Avonside Girls' High School) progressed straight to the A Final after placing second in their heat earlier this week. Coached by Nick Barton, the crew made a strong start in the A final today and held second position by the first 500m, but were unable to maintain the speed of China, Italy and Germany who took gold, silver and bronze respectively.
Darry, Mills, Burrell and Wylaars placed fifth in a time of 07:14.50.
Men’s Quad (JM4x) - A Final
Coached by Duncan By de Ley, the New Zealand men’s quad of Ben Mason (Otago Boys’ High School), Seth Hope (Cambridge RC, Waikato RPC), Jason Nel (St Peter's School Cambridge) and William Thompson (Waikato Rowing Club, Waikato RPC) placed first in their heat and second in their A/B semi-final earlier this week.
In today’s A Final, the New Zealand crew were up against Germany and Italy, both of whom had strong performances throughout heats and A/B semi-finals. Unable to maintain the European’s speed, Mason, Hope, Nel and Thompson placed sixth in a time of 06:18.91. Germany took gold, Italy took silver and Russia took bronze.
Men’s Double (JM2x) - B Final
Also coached by Duncan By de Ley, Kobe Miller (Blenheim Rowing Club, Central RPC) and Scott Shackleton (Christchurch Boys' High School) won the B Final of the men’s double in a time of 06:54.21, ahead of the Netherlands in second and Hungary in third.
Miller and Shackleton rank 7th overall.