Tauranga Boys' College Year 12 student Jameson McConnochie is the new national champion for the U17 single sculls.

He placed first in the final with a time of 7:27.58, securing the gold medal.

'He blitzed the competition by over a boat length to win the gold medal, the John Alexander Challenge Cup and a brand new, custom built single skiff from Laszlo Boats for the college,” says Tauranga Boys' College Teacher in Charge of Rowing, Tanya Williams.

The race was held as part of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Maadi rowing regatta at Lake Karapiro near Cambridge from March 27 to April 1.

The regatta is seven days of rowing competition, and regarded as the premier event in the school rowing season.

Tauranga Boys' College Year 12 student Jameson McConnochie with head rowing coach Richard Gee. Photo: Supplied.

Maadi is the largest school sports event in the Southern Hemisphere, with 113 schools, 2267 rowers and around 10000 spectators.

'It is the first time in Tauranga Boys' College's history that they have won this prestigious event and the first win in a premier race at Maadi since the 1990s,” says Tanya.

'What a week it was! We were feted with brilliant weather up until yesterday [Saturday], but the rain was the catalyst that bought us all together in the end - that last day of huddling under shelter, in vans or under umbrellas gave us time to reflect together, to relive success and to analyse things that we will improve upon next season.”

She says the lack of a strong internet connection at the event 'got us talking, celebrating, reminiscing, laughing and really cemented us as a team”.

Jameson is coached by the college's head rowing coach Richard Gee, who is delighted with the win, as well as the new singles skiff from Laszlo boats for the college.

Tanya says Richard is 'the glue that binds our team together”.

At the medal ceremony Kadin Nathan led the students in performing a haka.

'Jameson was invited to join the 2023 U18 North island trials at Lake Karapiro but is unable to attend as he is taking a well-deserved holiday to Japan with his family,” says Tanya.

Jameson receiving his prize, a single skiff from Laszlo boats for his school, whilst receiving a haka from his Tauranga Boys' College rowing squad mates. Photo: Supplied.

Tauranga Boys' College results for Maadi 2023:

Boys u17 single sculls

J McConnochie

Heat 1: placed 2nd (8:03.85)

Quarter-final 3: placed 1st (8:18.60)

Semi-final 1: placed 1st (7:38.15)

A Final: placed 1st (7:27.58)

Boys u15 double sculls

K McConnochie, K Walters

Heat 1: placed 4th (7:48.56)

Repechage 1: placed 6th (8:25.75)

B Final: placed 4th (7:35.01)

Boys u17 double sculls

E Bircham, J McConnochie

Heat 2: placed 2nd (7:32.24)

Semi-final 1: placed 4th (7:17.33)

A Final: placed 8th (7:28.10)

Boys u15 coxed eight

T Nelson, J Muir, O Fairweather, R McKenzie, C Brown, M Kilby, O Milne, T Rooseboom + J Gilbert

Heat 1: placed 5th (8:48.28)

Repechage 1: placed 6th (7:11.86)

A Final: placed 8th (7:24.70)

Boys u18 single sculls

N Helms

Heat 1: placed 5th (8:01.08)

Repechage 1: placed 4th (8:01.38)

Quarter-final 4: placed 7th (8:21.99)

D Final: placed 1st (8:01.07)

Boys u15 coxed quad sculls

K McConnochie, K Walters, T Nelson, T Rooseboom + N Burrell

Heat 3: placed 2nd (7:26.45)

Semi-final 1: placed 5th (7:22.07)

B Final: placed 5th (7:04.96)