ROWING

On 16 March 1887, at the instance of William Fitzgerald of the Star Boating Club, Wellington, representatives of nine clubs established the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association, which was formed under the patronage of Sir W. F. D. Jervois. J. O. Jones, of Christchurch, was the first president and A. G. Biss, of Wellington, was secretary. The nine clubs which formed the association were: Union Rowing Club (Christchurch) (1866); Star Boating Club (Wellington) (1867); Canterbury Rowing Club and Wanganui Rowing Club (1875); Union Boating Club (Wanganui) (1878); Napier Rowing Club (1886); Wellington Rowing Club (1885); and the Nelson and Whakatu Rowing Clubs (Nelson).

As rowing became more popular, the number of clubs affiliated to the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association increased. The original nine became 34 in 1892 and 45 ten years later. On 4 October 1902 the association's annual meeting approved a proposal to provide for the sport to be administered on a regional basis under a central managing body. Accordingly, on 5 January 1903, nine local provincial rowing associations were set up. These were the Auckland, Canterbury, Hawke's Bay (now East Coast), Marlborough, Nelson, Otago, Southland, Wanganui, and Wellington Provincial Rowing Associations.

National Championships

In 1888 the first New Zealand rowing championships were held in fours and single sculls only and at different regattas. Two events, the pairs and double sculls, were added in the following season. These continued to be contested at different regattas until 1891, when they were all held at Wanganui. Up until 1927, probably owing to the cost of eight-oared boats, eight-oared rowing was confined to local regattas and to university clubs. In March 1928 the first inter-provincial championship eights race was held in Wellington for the Hallyburton Johnston Cup. A New Zealand championship eights event was added to the annual championship venue in 1937.

R. B. Smith, of Auckland, who won 10 New Zealand championship titles, has the finest record in this respect. Before the Second World War he won the single sculls on six occasions and the double sculls three times; while in 1946 he stroked an Auckland Rowing Club crew to win the New Zealand eights title. Don Rowlands is another who has built up an enviable record in New Zealand rowing. He has nine New Zealand championship titles, in the single and double sculls and eights, to his credit. In 1954 he added the Empire Games Gold Medal for single sculls to his achievements.

New Zealand Rowing Council Training Squads

To be successful in overseas competitions, especially in eight-oared events, it is necessary to give crews intensive training beforehand. As few rowing clubs are strong enough to produce sufficient men of world standard, the New Zealand Rowing Council has had to arrange the training of crews drawn from clubs throughout the country. In 1961 the council formed a squad to train for the eights at the British Commonwealth Games in November 1962. This crew's success at Perth encouraged the council to sponsor a similar training programme for the 1964 Olympic Games at Tokyo. During the 1963–64 season the crew competed at the various regattas in order to qualify for selection for the Olympic Games at Tokyo.

Rowing in Secondary Schools

In recent years rowing has obtained a growing following in secondary schools. In 1947 the rowing council donated the Maadi Cup, won by the New Zealand Army eight in Egypt, for competition among secondary schools' eight-oared crews. The rowing medals and oars won by Archbishop R. Owen have also been presented as trophies for schoolboy competitions. In this connection it may be noted that, of recent years, most of New Zealand's champions and representatives began rowing at school.

Standard of Rowing

Although competition against overseas crews of world class is the only real way of attaining the standard necessary to win world or Olympic titles, expense has been a serious problem. Over the past 10 years the standard of rowing in New Zealand has improved greatly, due to several factors: first, to the increasing number of proficient oarsmen being trained in secondary schools; secondly, to the use of better equipment and more efficient coaching methods by the various clubs; and, thirdly, to competitors passing on the fruits of their overseas experience to fellow club members.

Membership

The New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association's annual report for 1962–63 shows that its active membership is 1,564 and that there are also 145 schoolboys rowing for clubs.

by Samuel Irwin Kidd, Hon. Treasurer, New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association, Wellington.

Hallyburton Johnston Cup

ROWING

On 16 March 1887, at the instance of William Fitzgerald of the Star Boating Club, Wellington, representatives of nine clubs established the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association, which was formed under the patronage of Sir W. F. D. Jervois. J. O. Jones, of Christchurch, was the first president and A. G. Biss, of Wellington, was secretary. The nine clubs which formed the association were: Union Rowing Club (Christchurch) (1866); Star Boating Club (Wellington) (1867); Canterbury Rowing Club and Wanganui Rowing Club (1875); Union Boating Club (Wanganui) (1878); Napier Rowing Club (1886); Wellington Rowing Club (1885); and the Nelson and Whakatu Rowing Clubs (Nelson).

As rowing became more popular, the number of clubs affiliated to the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association increased. The original nine became 34 in 1892 and 45 ten years later. On 4 October 1902 the association's annual meeting approved a proposal to provide for the sport to be administered on a regional basis under a central managing body. Accordingly, on 5 January 1903, nine local provincial rowing associations were set up. These were the Auckland, Canterbury, Hawke's Bay (now East Coast), Marlborough, Nelson, Otago, Southland, Wanganui, and Wellington Provincial Rowing Associations.

National Championships

In 1888 the first New Zealand rowing championships were held in fours and single sculls only and at different regattas. Two events, the pairs and double sculls, were added in the following season. These continued to be contested at different regattas until 1891, when they were all held at Wanganui. Up until 1927, probably owing to the cost of eight-oared boats, eight-oared rowing was confined to local regattas and to university clubs. In March 1928 the first inter-provincial championship eights race was held in Wellington for the Hallyburton Johnston Cup. A New Zealand championship eights event was added to the annual championship venue in 1937.

R. B. Smith, of Auckland, who won 10 New Zealand championship titles, has the finest record in this respect. Before the Second World War he won the single sculls on six occasions and the double sculls three times; while in 1946 he stroked an Auckland Rowing Club crew to win the New Zealand eights title. Don Rowlands is another who has built up an enviable record in New Zealand rowing. He has nine New Zealand championship titles, in the single and double sculls and eights, to his credit. In 1954 he added the Empire Games Gold Medal for single sculls to his achievements.

New Zealand Rowing Council Training Squads

To be successful in overseas competitions, especially in eight-oared events, it is necessary to give crews intensive training beforehand. As few rowing clubs are strong enough to produce sufficient men of world standard, the New Zealand Rowing Council has had to arrange the training of crews drawn from clubs throughout the country. In 1961 the council formed a squad to train for the eights at the British Commonwealth Games in November 1962. This crew's success at Perth encouraged the council to sponsor a similar training programme for the 1964 Olympic Games at Tokyo. During the 1963–64 season the crew competed at the various regattas in order to qualify for selection for the Olympic Games at Tokyo.