Countdown to Head of the River: Highlights from Penrhos Rowing 2024
by Keith Reynolds, Rowing Co-ordinator
One week to go!
Our Rowing season started back in the warm weather of Term 4 in 2023 and for our senior rowers meant a chance to attend the New Zealand Rowing Tour.
We flew out on out Saturday, 9 December to an overcast but warm Auckland where we did all the tourist things including going up the Sky Tower and zip lining on Waiheke Island. A bit of shopping was also involved in our city walks.
Our bus driver Wayne, with his very funny commentary, did a great job taking us south to Rotorua, where we enjoyed the delights of all things geothermal. The scented air of the city sure cleared our lungs.
On the way back up to Lake Karapiro for the Christmas Regatta, we also went underground to wonder at the glowworm caves at Waitomo before going to the Hobbiton Movie Set.
Beautiful and bustling Lake Karapiro was shining for our racing days with everyone there willing to help us out with all our equipment needs. Being the Christmas regatta all our crews raced with reindeer antlers, Santa Claus beards and hats which earned them a best dressed on the day.
Penrhos Rowing has not bought a 1st Eight in a very long time and this year we were very proud to name our brand new Filippi 1st Eight the Kalea Haran. It was a joyous occasion in the Margaret Way Courtyard for the boat naming ceremony.
Term 1 kicked off our return to the water, and anticipation was high for Camp Eaton, a favourite among rowers. The days were spent enjoying the serene river, complemented by generous servings of pre-breakfast, breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner, complete with delicious ice cream!
Many thanks to Ms Bree White for all her help and the fantastic Friends of Rowing
The regatta season has just a week to go with our own hosted regatta wonderfully and successfully conducted by the Friends of Rowing.
As this last week unfolds I see how much fitter, stronger and faster all our rowers are. Each regatta I see the improvement each crew is making and it is a wonderful thing to see.
Rowing is an art, a dance which builds resilience, practicality and crew. I hope that everyone has the best of luck, leaves it all out there on the water and has the best race ever at this year's Head of the River.
