Three gold medals for Whakatane High School

Whakatane High School win three gold medals from three finals at Maadi today.

Whakatane High School had a day to remember at Maadi finals today,  winning three A-Final events.

Lenny, Elliot and Finn Jenkins, David Beukes and coxswain Blane Herberly, won the A-Final U18 quad this afternoon.

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ALL FOR GOLD: Finn Jenkins, David Beukes, Lenny Jenkins, Elliot Jenkins, Blayne Herberly, Graham Watt (coach) and Matt Hill (coach) receive their gold medal and Trevor Cocker Memorial Shield. Photo: Haylee King
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FINISHED FIRST: Whakatane High School U18 quad crew take in the feelings of their win. Photo: Haylee King

The boys powered through, winning by a sixth of a second from Christchurch Boys’ High School.

In a close race, the intensity built as the boys closed in on the finish line.

Alan Jenkins, the Jenkins trio’s grandad, said after the race he was feeling relieved and glad that the race was over, especially with the win.

“Absolutely fantastic race, what a finish,” he said.

Throughout the race, Jenkins was feeling incredibly nervous for his grandsons.

He said the boys keep their pre-race feelings to themselves and it is hard to tell what they are feeling.

At the medal ceremony, the boys held their heads high with the biggest smiles as the crowds cheered and applauded.

Along with their medals the Trevor Cocker Memorial Shield was also awarded to the boys by Olympic gold medallist Eric Murray.

Whakatane High School also won two other gold medals today.

The Jenkins twins, Elliot and Finn, won gold in their A-Final U15 double sculls this morning, along with the Mark Meates Cup.

This afternoon, Lenny and Matt Butler won the U17 double sculls and were awarded their gold medals and the St Andrews College Cup.

The A-Final U18 double and U17 coxed quad will be held tomorrow at the last day of Maadi.

For more information about Whakatane High School’s progress at Maadi and race times, check rowIT.