Whakatāne Rowing Club members came to together this month to acknowledge the success of rowers, coaches and supporters during the 2024/2025 rowing season.

It had been a while since everyone had got together after the season’s last regatta in March.

The evening started with club president Shane Iremonger welcoming all, including long-time club patron John Twaddle.  

Club captain Gary McAdams thanked rowers, coaches and family members for making the season so successful, and then, with club secretary Lisa Hale, presented the awards for the evening.

The club has seen growth in its masters’ programme over the past year – Gill Peterson was recognised as the most improved masters’ rower and Deb Rowe was awarded masters’ rower of the year for her successes at multiple regattas.

The club’s top individual rowing awards were taken out by senior rowers Holly Hay and Ash Schutz for their standout performances.

Crew of the year went to Ash Schutz and Travis Talpos for their performance in the U18 double scull throughout both the club and school seasons.  

Coached by highly experienced coach Graham Watt – the boys are in year 13 at Whakatāne High School, so have now finished their school rowing careers.

The continued success of the senior boys crews over the season saw Watt awarded the coach of the year trophy.

The club was happy this year to support a small group of novice boys and girls crews in to rowing and is hoping to see more novice rowing this coming season.  

Novice of the year was awarded to Hayden Grant, who had a strong season and stand-out performance in the U15 double scull with Kohl van den Anker to win silver at the Maadi regatta.  

Grant was again acknowledged along with fellow novice rower Jasper House as the novice crew of the year.

The club not only recognised success, but also the contribution of its members.  This year, the award for rowmanship was given to U16 rower James McKay for his positive attitude, contribution and level head throughout the season.  

Coxswain of the year was awarded to first-timer Arthur Boyce.  Clare Knapton, who is also a rower, won supporter of the year having worked tirelessly as the teacher in charge of rowing at Whakatāne High School to strengthen the relationship between the school and club.  

Richard McChesney, a long-standing committee member, was acknowledged for his ongoing service to the club in the maintenance of the club’s coach boats and the trailer fleet.

Guest speaker for the prizegiving was ex-club member Lennie Jenkins.  

Jenkins shared with younger club members his journey from his introduction to rowing at the Whakatāne Rowing Club under Watt to his successes at Harvard and Oxford universities, as well as rowing for Great Britain.  

His speech sought to inspire younger club members to seek out opportunities to further their rowing careers as well as their education.  

The evening concluded with the club and rowers acknowledging the coaches and their incredible contribution over the year.  

Coaches acknowledged were: Chick Hammond (senior girls), Leighton Hale (novice boys and U16), Gary McAdams (novice boys and U16), Lena Cassidy-Clark (masters), Deb Rowe (junior girls) and Graham Watt (senior boys).

Watt concluded the prizegiving with a heartfelt speech in which he shared the highlights of his coaching career and acknowledged the large number of rowers and their families he had worked with over the years.  

He acknowledged the club was now in a strong position, with growing membership and coaching staff, and that he felt it was the right time to step away from his coaching role.  

The committee, as well as past and present members wish to thank him for his incredible contribution to the success of the club and the impact he has had upon the lives of so many of Whakatāne’s aspiring rowers.