Conditions on the Whakatāne River were at their best last Saturday for the Whakatāne Rowing Club’s annual Rowing Festival.  

The festival heralds the start of the new summer rowing season and is a chance for all members to come together and row in different combinations in a range of fun events.

The day started with more experienced rowers taking to the water in singles and doubles; this allowed the experienced club masters to support the Learn to Row group to get out on the water in bigger boats to showcase their growing skills.  

The Learn to Row Programme in the October school holidays attracted a large group of students and the coaches were heartened to see most participants return weekly.

With masters’ rowers sitting in the bow (to provide balance and support) the LTR rowers did their best to outpace each other over 500 metres in quads and an octuple.  

Friends and family cheered the new rowers on as they tried to get blades in the water and keep the pace going.  

Across the morning the crews raced each other three times and the girls’ squad emerged a clear winner.

The second half of the morning involved more experienced rowers hitting the water and testing themselves in preparation for the first regatta of the season, the Blue Lake 1000, being held today.

The long hours of training being put in over the winter and early spring months look to be paying off, with individuals looking strong, fit and focused on perfecting their technique.

The club believes in a strong connection with whānau and relies on the engagement of family to support events.  

It was wonderful to see parents, siblings, grandparents and wider family bring their deck chairs and set up on the river bank.  

Committee members and parents helped the day run smoothly with running the barbecue, manning safety boats, taking photographs and doing the finish line hooter.

It’s a busy season ahead for the club with regattas at Karapiro fortnightly until Christmas.  

On a new and exciting front, the club is in the process of organising a coastal rowing event as part of the Beach Sprint Summer Series in February 2026.  

As this is an emerging sport (being showcased at the Los Angeles Olympic Games), the club will be encouraging its members to “have a go” at other series events held in Orewa and Papamoa in November and December.

Also on the horizon is the club’s major fundraiser for the year, the Dewar Shield Regatta, held in mid-January at Blue Lake.  

The club will soon start the organisation for the event in conjunction with Rotorua Rowing Club. The intention as always is to reclaim the shield from the bigger clubs who attend the event – fingers crossed.