"It was definitely a great result, particularly in terms of confidence. Our training programme is working, which will put us in a strong position leading into the Maadi Cup," boys' coach Annabel Ritchie said.
At Twizel, the under-15 double sculls event was won by Wakatipu High School pair Alex Hall and Michael Foley in 7min 33.7sec.
Foley won another gold medal in partnership with Hall, Matt Nicholson, Marco Dyson and cox Josh Speight in the quadruple sculls (7min 12sec) and the four (7min 29.83sec).
Hall struck gold yet again, winning alongside Nicholson, Dyson, Speight and cox Gabby Buchanan in the under-15 coxed fours "which was probably my highlight of the regatta - they all just punched well above their weight and the result was just phenomenal", Ms Ritchie said.
The Maadi Cup regatta is the largest school sports event in the southern hemisphere and is to be staged at Waikato's Lake Karapiro from March 28 to April 2.
North Island schools have about twice as many rowers and although the boys' squad can take "great confidence" from the weekend's results they will "have to step it up another notch" in the next level of national competition, she said.
Girls' coach Maurice Maxwell said his squad of 16 and 17-year-olds had competed against older, stronger, more seasoned athletes, making competition tough in Twizel. However, he said the girls' times would have put them in A-grade finals in the North Island champs.
"The Maadi Cup is the next level but we are well and truly in the mix. They're a chance - they've just got to work hard for the next two weeks and get focused and composed on the day."
