Maadi Cup


The Maadi Cup is the prize for the New Zealand Secondary Schools Boys' Under 18 Rowing Eights. More colloquially, it is the name given to the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Regatta, at which the Maadi Cup is raced. The regatta is the largest school sports event in the Southern Hemisphere, with over 2,087 rowers from 113 secondary schools participating in 2023 The regatta is held annually in late March, alternating between the country's two main rowing venues: Lake Karapiro near Cambridge, and Lake Ruataniwha near Twizel.
The top prizes at the regatta are the Maadi Cup, Springbok Shield, Levin Jubilee Cup, Dawn Cup and Star Trophy. The fastest time recorded in the Maadi Cup event was by St Bede's College in 2023 with a time of 5:42.17, which is also the overall record time for the Boys' Under 18 Eight in New Zealand. This was also the closest race for the Maadi Cup in the event's history, with St Bede's College winning by 0.06 seconds over Hamilton Boys' High School. Also in the same year was the fastest time recorded in the Levin Jubilee Cup event by Rangi Ruru Girls' School with a time of 6:27.68.

History

During World War II, members of the 2nd NZEF based at Maadi Camp in Egypt competed in regattas on the Nile against local Egyptian rowing clubs. At a regatta held on 20 November 1943 the Maadi Camp Rowing Club "Kiwi" oarsmen beat the Cairo River Club by 11 points to six to win the Freyberg Cup, which they then gifted to the competitors. In return, as a token of friendship, Youssef Baghat presented the Kiwis with a cup. Youssef Baghat's cup was offered to the NZARA as a trophy for an annual boys' eight-oared race between secondary schools and was brought to New Zealand at the end of the war.
Renamed the Maadi Cup it was first raced for in 1947 at Wanganui where it was won by Mount Albert Grammar School, who beat Sacred Heart College by a half-length. Four boats took part in the original race, with Allan Tong a member of Wanganui Technical College; he would later compete in the New Zealand at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, in the coxed four. The fourth boat was from St Augustine's College. The Maadi Cup gained its native timber pyramid shaped base from Mt Albert Grammar's woodwork master and first rowing coach, Jack Jenkin, in 1951. Only 17 schools have ever won the cup, with Wanganui Collegiate School the most successful, having won it 17 times.
Members for the 2nd NZEF competed in rowing regattas and won races run by the Cairo River Club until they were shipped back to New Zealand at the end of the War.

Major event wins

Schools that have won the Maadi Cup:
As of the 2025 event, 17 schools have won the Maadi Cup.
RankNameTitlesYears
1Whanganui Collegiate School171952, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1985, 1986, 2000, 2001, 2004
2Christ's College131988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2006, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2021
3Hamilton Boys' High School121970, 1987, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2024
4Mt Albert Grammar School81947, 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1961
5Tauranga Boys' College71978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1994, 1997
6Westlake Boys' High School41976, 1983, 1984, 2025
7King's College31953, 1959, 1960
8=Wanganui Technical School21949, 1950
8=Auckland Grammar School21992, 2011
8=St Paul's Collegiate22002, 2003
8=St Bede's College21991, 2023
12=Fraser High School11975
12=Sacred Heart College11948
12=New Plymouth Boys' High School11962
12=Whanganui High School11972
12=St Andrew's College12017
12=Christchurch Boys' High School12019

;Springbok Shield
The Springbok Shield is the prize for the boys' under 18 coxed four. It was instigated in 1964 by Mr Cecil Purvis who was visiting South Africa at the time and met with members of the Johannesburg youth rowing community. After much discussion the Springbok Shield eventuated. The Shield is made from segments of all the woods from South Africa and was first rowed for in 1965 when it was won by Hamilton Boys' High School.
As of the 2025 event, 19 schools have won the Springbok Shield.
RankNameTitlesYears
1Hamilton Boys' High School171965, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1995, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2018, 2024
2Tauranga Boys' College81979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1994, 1997
3Christ's College61988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2016
4Westlake Boys' High School51982, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2025
5Whanganui Collegiate School41966, 1977, 1985, 2004
6St Paul's Collegiate32000, 2003, 2015
7=Fairfield College21968, 1970
7=St Andrew's College21983, 2017
7=Christchurch Boys' High School21999, 2019
7=Auckland Grammar School22011, 2021
11=Rongotai College11967
11=Whanganui High School11975
11=Otumoetai College11978
11=King's College11992
11=Wellington College12001
11=Marlborough Boys' College12012
11=Napier Boys' High School12014
11=Mt Albert Grammar School12022
11=St Bede's College12023

;Levin 75th Jubilee Cup
The Levin Cup is awarded to the winner of the girls' under 18 eight. In 1981 the Maadi Regatta was held on Lake Horowhenua. That year the Levin Borough Council was holding its 75th Jubilee. The mayor, Jack Bolderson, decided that a fitting memorial would be for a cup for the girls senior eight. The inaugural winner was Wanganui Girls College.
As of the 2025 event, 11 schools have won the Levin 75th Jubilee Cup.
RankNameTitlesYears
1Rangi Ruru Girls' School181991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2021, 2022, 2023
2St Margaret's College82001, 2003, 2004, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2025
3=Whanganui Girls' College31981, 1984, 1985
3=Marlborough Girls' College31986, 1987, 1988
3=Waikato Diocesan School32002, 2011, 2014
6=Whanganui High School21982, 1983
6=Westlake Girls' High School21989, 1990
6=Diocesan School for Girls22016, 2017
9=Wanganui Collegiate School12006
9=St Peter's School, Cambridge12018
9=Christchurch Girls' High School12024

;Dawn Cup
The Dawn Cup is awarded to the winner of the girls' under 18 coxed four. At the Maadi Regatta of 1980 held on the Wairoa River, a cup was donated by Noel Lynch for the Girls Under 18 Four. On finals day, officials were unable to keep to time and by dark, the Boys Under 17 Eight and the Girls Under 18 Four had not been rowed. These races were then scheduled to be held at 6:30 am Sunday morning. Because of this, Noel Lynch and Enoka Macdonald decided this trophy should be called the Dawn Cup and it was first won by Queen Charlotte College.
As of the 2025 event, 16 schools have won the Dawn Cup.
RankNameTitlesYears
1Rangi Ruru Girls' School171990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2022, 2023, 2025
2Westlake Girls' High School41989, 1991, 2002, 2014
3=Whanganui High School31982, 1983, 1985
3=St Margaret's College32004, 2006, 2013
3=St Peter's School, Cambridge32011, 2012, 2018
3=Waikato Diocesan School32015, 2019, 2024
7=Marlborough Girls' College21987, 1988
7=Gisborne Girls' High School21996, 2000
9=11980
9=Te Awamutu College11981
9=Nayland College11984
9=Whanganui Girls' College11986
9=Sacred Heart Girls College12005
9=Diocesan School for Girls12016
9=St Paul's Collegiate12017
9=Christchurch Girls' High School12021

;Star Trophy
Since 1997, the Star Trophy is the prize awarded to the top overall school at the Regatta, and therefore come to denote the top rowing school in New Zealand. The Star trophy was donated by Star Boating Club, which it is named after. The award is determined on a points basis: schools winning events get 5 points, runners up get 3 points, and third place-getters get one point.
As of the 2025 event, 7 schools have won the Star Trophy
RankNameTitlesYears
1Rangi Ruru Girls' School101997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2021, 2022, 2023
2Hamilton Boys' High School82005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2024
3St Margaret's College42001, 2002, 2003, 2004
4St Peter's School, Cambridge32012, 2016, 2018
5=Waikato Diocesan School12011
5=Christchurch Boys' High School12019
5=Kings College12025

;Executive Trophy
Since 2003, the Executive Trophy is the prize awarded to the top overall school in sweep-oar events at the Regatta.
As of the 2025 event, 5 schools have won the Executive Trophy.
RankNameTitlesYears
1Hamilton Boys' High School112005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
2Rangi Ruru Girls' School62010, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
3St Margaret's College32003, 2004, 2012
4Waikato Diocesan School12011
4=Kings College12025

;Presidents Scull
Since 2003, the Presidents Scull is the prize awarded to the top overall school in sculling events at the Regatta.
As of the 2025 event, 13 schools have won the Presidents Scull.
RankNameTitlesYears
1St Peter's School, Cambridge8.52010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
2Wakatipu High School3.52022, 2023, 2024, 2025
3Kavanaugh College1.52012, 2013
4=St Margaret's College12003
4=12004
4=Whanganui High School12005
4=Marlborough Girls' College12006
4=Roncalli College12008
4=James Hargest College12009
4=Dunstan High School12021
11=Nelson College0.52007
11=Hauraki Plains College0.52007
11=Cashmere High School0.52024