Rowing

The boys are based at the Wairau Rowing Club (WRC), which is located at 115 Steam Wharf Road, Grovetown on the Wairau River. The squad size varies between 25-40 young men each season and ranges in age from 13 – 18. For the first part of the season they compete under the WRC colours of green and white, and the second half of the season in the school colours of blue and gold.

The season officially starts in September, although athletes quite often will do a winter training program concentrating on core strength and muscle development. The first regatta of the season is Marlborough Champs, usually held in the first week of December followed by training camps at Lake Rotoiti held later in December and in January. Regattas then follow in January, February and March with the pinnacle event, Maadi Cup, help late March.

Rowing is a highly competitive sport that requires a huge level of fitness and commitment, but also provides strengths that will form an invaluable part of your child’s future. It allows them to gain a sense of resilience and learn that growth comes from pushing themselves personally and physically. They also learn what it truly means to be a good teammate, with a sense of trust, harmony, and purpose, then they can really help their team perform at their absolute best. It is also a real team sport, with rowers and coxswains working together and supporting each other to achieve a common goal.

There are no hard and fast rules for rowing; successful rowers come in all shapes and sizes. Rowing is far less about natural physical ability than it is about mental strength and perseverance!

Our coaching team brings with them extensive rowing experience and coaching credentials. Head Coach Clayton Lindstrom with his coaching team including Grant Morgan, Glen Marfell, Ethan Elderlieste and Daniel Karina who have all competed at College and National level.

MBC Rowers have a proud history of success and are regularly represented on the winners’ podium throughout the club and school season. Some of our more recent national level successes include:

Tom Murray who won a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the mens eight and more recently a bronze medal in the mens four at the World Rowing Champs (2023) in Belgrade, Serbia
Robbie Manson who is still the world record holder (as of 2023) in the men’s single scull with a time of 6:30.74
Kobe Miller in the 2021 NZ U21 team and 2023 NZ U23 team
Fred Vavasour in the 2021 NZ U19 team and 2023 NZ U21 team
Ashley-James Fitzgerald, Dylan Burton and Walter Wickham competed in the 2021 NZ U18 North vs South Island regatta
Ashley-James Fitzgerald in the 2022 NZ U19 team
Harrison Somerville who made the NZ U23 team in 2016
Angus McFarlane who made the NZ U23 team in 2018
The TIC of MBC Rowing is Hayden Mahoney.