April 2026 Newsletter

Maadi 2026

Well Maadi has come and gone for another year. For some reason Twizel seems to create some kind of magic you don’t feel with the same event at Karapiro. For sure it is more of an adventure.

We can be proud of “our schools” achievements this year, although gold medals eluded, some notable results were obtained. Here are the results where crews made finals:

Papamoa College

Boys U18 N2x A Bulling, J Marsden, A Final 6th place

Boys U18 N4+ A Bulling, R Ivamy, H Faire-Barlow, J Marsden, cox K Malalan, B final 6th place.

Boys U18 N4x+ A Bulling. R Ivamy, H Faire-Barlow, J Marsden, cox K Malalan, B final 3rd place.

Aquinas College

Boys U17 2x P Nells, C Tipi, C final 3rd place

Boys U16 1x O Marr, B final 2nd place

Tauranga Girls’ College

Girls U15 4+ C Stott, A Kelly, C Turton, J Teague, cox H Savage, B final 6th place.

Girls U16 4X+ B Nelson, Z O’Neill, H Savage, C Massey, cox J Teague, D final 6th place.

Girls U15 2x. C Stott, A Kelly, B final 3rd place.

Otumoetai College

Girls U16 8+  P van Dijk, E Hellberg, K Burney, E Hawke. H MacLean, H Stapleton, R Dowling, M Reid, cox O Shefferd, B final 4th place.

Girls U16 4X+ P van Dijk, K Burney, E Hawke, M Reid, cox O Shefferd, C final 6th place.

Girls U16 4+ P van Dijk, E Hellberg, K Burney, E Hawke, cox O Shefferd, B final 1st place

Well done to you all, and also to all other competitors that took part. You are all a credit to your schools and to our club.

We also need to recognize all others supporting the regatta. Especially coaches. The logistics of getting everybody down and back safely is a huge task,

Representative Teams announcements 

James Hollard is currently training as part of the U23 Training Squad at Lake Karapiro and will trial in June for final selection into the 2026 U23 Rowing New Zealand Team.

Luke Berquist has been selected in the men’s double with Jameson McConnochie from Waikato in the U22 North team to compete in Queensland next month.

I am not sure of what is in the water of Lake Dunstan in the South Island as 7 of the 10 rowers chosen from the South Island are all from the Dunstan Arm rowing club!

Grant Funding 

I am pleased to confirm that we have received funding from the Bobby Foundation for 8 new stroke coaches worth over $7,000.  These will be available for the 2026-27 season and will be the responsibility of coaches to provide for racing/training and collect back in at the end of each session. Members will not be permitted to “help themselves” from the charging board in the boat shed.

Applications will be submitted this month to make up the shortfall on a new heavyweight 2x and for a new womens/lightweight 8+, also with 8x riggers,  to add to the “Wahine” for use by school age athletes.

Important dates for your diary

Wednesday 29 April - Waters Edge Lounge at 6.00pm.  Following the end of the rowing season there will be a social get together for all Parents, Coaches, Masters, Club and Committee members to review the season and feed into planning for 2026-27. The club will provide food, BYO drinks. An invitation has been sent out on Heja. If you have not received it let Helen know as soon as possible if you are attending. Link at  https://forms.gle/taR35y8NMFcBhz1Y7

Sunday 3 May - Season Closing Day Racing  in 4+’s and Working Bee.  It has been  a number of years since this cup has been competed for.  Teams are selected with mixed gender and experience to “even up” the racing.  With high tide at 8 am racing will be in front of the Club followed by “bacon butties” to fuel everyone for a working bee to tidy up the shed and exterior of the building in preparation for the winter and new season.

Saturday 16th May - Tauranga Rowing Club Prizegiving. This will be an evening function and an opportunity for everyone to dress up!  The evening will include dinner.  The Club will provide meat/protein options and squads will be asked to provide salads and desserts.  BYO drinks. More details to follow. 

Waters Edge Lounge 

Things are moving well with more bookings and interest in the lounge. Our new manager Dee has been working hard to lift interest in the lounge, and it is paying off.

Please remember to promote our lounge at every opportunity. Not just weddings, but think of corporate events, casual hourly hires for groups wanting a place that is neutral for example. 

Your lounge normally creates enough income to cover most of the clubs annual fixed running costs, around $55K. Without this income, subscriptions would be a lot more expensive.

In closing, again my appreciation to everyone who contributes to the smooth running of our club. 

We are very fortunate to have such a great club.

Until next time

Neil Chinnery-Brown 

Club President.