What’s masters rowing like in the South Island of New Zealand? We meet South Island Rowing chairman, Peter Midgeley.
Timestamps
00:30 South Island of New Zealand has an association who owns and runs the Twizel lake which includes a 2k rowing course. The NZ National Champs and NZ Secondary School champs (Maadi Cup) regatta are held there. The Cup was first raced in Egypt after the Second World War in Maadi, Cairo, Egypt. It was brought home by returning soldiers and is now presented to the fasters secondary school boys eight each year.
02:45 Masters Clubs in South Island NZ
One club is only masters, most have a masters section. Many are small (20 rowers) half are recreational and half want to race. There’s a year calendar which Peter sets. There are 5 major regattas a year and the masters have set events within those regattas. They use the handicap system which counts down additional seconds so everyone finishes at the same time – making a better spectacle for the crowds watching. Every second year the NZ Masters Championships are in the South Island held in September. And the South Island Masters Champs is in June – starting 22 years ago. Now it’s got about 25 cups and has 2-300 participants. It’s in the coldest weekend of the year! The format starts with a long distance race the first day, 1k mixed racing with a BBQ in the evening. The 1k regatta is on the second day and has a dinner/dance afterwards. Peter recalls racing in the snow at Twizel once for that regatta.
07:30 Peter explains that this year the organisers are ‘testing the waters’ about moving the weekend to Anzac Weekend in April – which is a bit warmer. The idea of the regatta is to go to the rivers and lakes where there used to be regattas. The size of the regatta now is limiting this. Peter recounts the story of the New Years Day regatta at Picton when the Interislander Ferry came in with a huge wake disrupting the event. Wise coxswains turned their boats sideways to ride the wave, but one boat got swamped. Joseph Sullivan is from Picton Rowing Club who won gold in M2x at London 2012 Olympics.
10:00 Innovations in masters rowing
Rules can only be changed every 4 years – it gets voted on at the AGM. So change is slow to happen. Masters need to get the clubs on board because in NZ we are very school-oriented. The majority of rowers are under 18. The masters are the backbone of clubs – they are in the sport for longer than parents. They’re only there for 3-4 years while their child is rowing. Many clubs are run by masters who have the time, money and knowledge as well as the staying power. The average master stays 10 years in a club. Coastal Rowing is going to give good growth for coastal clubs to bring on masters novices. Peter sees the opportunity to advance them faster as they learn to row without balance. This facilitates moving into fine narrow boats later. It’s easy to teach the basics of slide control and blade handling.
14:15 What next?
How to get masters onto a more equal footing with young people in the club. Peter says most masters are seen as second rate. Get onto the committee and be positive – be the oil on the squeeky wheel – and get things done. South Island Rowing has a website with all the clubs and associations including club contact details if you want to visit. There’s a club in every town and city in the South Island which has a river.
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