Whakatāne Rowing Club claimed third place in the Dewar Shield at the recent Blue Lake Regatta.

A total of 480 rowers from around the North Island descended on the Blue Lake to compete for the Dewar Shield.

The last time Whakatāne Rowing Club won the shield was in 2017, and there was a determined effort to reclaim it.

Whakatāne entered 34 rowers in the regatta across a variety of events.

Whakatāne crews made 44 A finals, which is critical in gaining the points needed to go toward the shield. Three points are awarded for first, two for second and one for third in the A final.

In an outstanding effort competing against larger city clubs, Whakatāne placed third behind Bay of Plenty Coast (first-time winners from Tauranga) and St Georges Club from Auckland.

Blue Lake is a unique regatta that caters for all rowers, from masters to novice rowers.

Rowers come for the relaxed atmosphere of the regatta, plus there is the benefit of the short 1000 metre course – effectively a sprint.

While rowers were working hard on the water, the large team of parents and whānau worked behind the scenes to organise the finals day, from car parking, catering for officials, barbecue duty, ice cream making and lane rope retrieval. This support team worked a long day to ensure the smooth running of the regatta.

The regatta was made all the more special by the attendance of 2024 Paris Olympic women’s single scull gold medallist Karolien Florijin (Netherlands), who mixed and mingled with some of the rowers.  It was an opportunity for young rowers to be inspired by those at the top of the sport.

Since 1904, rowing clubs have competed fiercely to claim this shield.

The two-day regatta is run jointly by Rotorua and Whakatāne rowing clubs.

The clubs call upon their families and the wider community to organise, run and sponsor the races, with the funds raised from the regatta going towards subsidising membership fees.

Whakatāne Rowing Club thanks the local businesses and families along with its club patron John Twaddle for his continued support.

The club is looking to put together a strong contingent of rowers next January to try to take the shield back.