Three Christchurch Rowing Coaches Sent Home From Maadi Cup for Misconduct

Three rowing coaches from Shirley Boys’ High School were stood down and sent home from the Maadi Cup regatta in March 2026 following reports of unacceptable behavior during the event.

The decision to remove the three male coaches was made after concerns were raised regarding their conduct during the secondary schools national rowing championships, which is one of New Zealand’s most prestigious sporting competitions.

Details of the Incident

The incident occurred on March 23, 2026, the opening day of the competition held at Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel. According to reporting from 1News, the coaches were socialising into the night when their behavior drew complaints from female rowing coaches.

The Press reported that the three individuals were sent home due to excessive drinking and anti-social conduct, noting that the behavior occurred during the regatta.

Shirley Boys’ High School headmaster Tim Grocott stated that he was alerted to the behavior of the coaches on March 24, 2026. Following this notification, the school’s head of rowing spoke with the coaches and ordered them to return home immediately, ending their involvement in the remainder of the Maadi Cup.

It was clear from the concerns raised that the conduct was not acceptable and did not reflect the values and expectations of the school.

Tim Grocott, Shirley Boys’ High School headmaster

Employment Status and School Response

Headmaster Grocott clarified the professional relationship between the school and the coaches, noting that while they were contracted to the school’s rowing program, they were not direct employees of Shirley Boys’ High School.

The Press reported that the three coaches involved represented a significant portion of the school’s rowing leadership, as they were three of the six or seven contracted coaches employed for the program.

Grocott confirmed that the school is treating the incident as a serious matter. He stated that he was not aware of any other complaints throughout the wider rowing season and that the current disciplinary action was specific to the behavior exhibited at the Maadi Cup.

As part of the school’s response, an internal review of the rowing season is already underway. This review will include a specific follow-up investigation into the incident that led to the coaches being stood down.

Maadi Cup Context

The 2026 Maadi Cup took place from March 23 to March 28, 2026. The event saw a large scale of participation, with 2,280 athletes representing 127 different schools competing in the national championships.