Help Scott represent New Zealand at the 2019 Junior World Rowing Championships

My name is Scott Shackleton. I am 16 years old, currently a student at Christchurch Boys' High School.

I have been selected to row for New Zealand at the World Under 19 Champs in Japan in August this year in the Men’s Double Sculls. Unfortunately, this selection comes with a substantial cost of approx. $10,000.00.

As part of my selection I am required to move to Cambridge for 2 months of training and as I am only 1 of 3 school age boys selected, I must attend St Peters School up there to maintain my schooling.

So, this is the reason for seeking aid for funding and below I’ll outline my journey that got me to this point.

I started High School at Shirley Boys High and was looking for a summer sport to maintain my fitness for rugby. I rowed for Shirley Boys High School for 2 seasons. 2 weeks out from South Island Champs, I started training in the single. I went on to win that event and two weeks later placed 4th at the Nationals (MAADI).

It was after being selected to trail in the U18 South Island team mid 2018 that I started looking at the option to move High Schools. While I realized that this was going to be a very big challenge, I knew that Christchurch Boys' High School has, nationally, a very good rowing and rugby programme.

In only ONE Season with Christchurch Boys' High school, I have achieved the following goals:

Meridian South Island Secondary Schools Championships

Gold - U17 single sculls

Gold - U17 coxed eight

Gold - U17 double sculls

Gold - U18 coxed eight - New course record set

Rocket Foods NZ Nationals Rowing Championships

Gold - Men’s U19 double sculls

Maadi 2019

Gold - U17 single sculls

Gold - U17 double sculls

Gold - U17 coxed eight

Gold - U18 coxed eight

At Maadi this year, I set two New Zealand records in the Single and U17 eight. I also won the school a new Lazlo Single Scull boat.

I have since been awarded:

Canterbury Rowing Association - Canterbury Secondary School Boy of the year 2019

Canterbury Rowing Club - Canterbury Secondary School Boy of the year 2019

Canterbury Rowing Club - Rower of the year 2019

As you can see rugby is on “hold” for now but not forgotten.

I think you will agree changing schools has worked well for me and it is no fluke that I am in this team, I can assure you I work my BUTT off, losing doesn’t sit well with me and I am not going over to Japan just to compete, at 16 years old I have a responsibly to qualify my selection, as perhaps I was not the most popular choice over others, so I am going over there to win.

My ambition is to better my results from this year, both nationally and internationally.