It's been a hot minute! Check out what's been happening over the last few months.
Kerri and Jackie Gowler Visit AWRC
Our Club was honoured to host two of our Tokyo Olympians, Kerri and Jackie at a Club Breakfast on Sunday 22 January, where they were able to answer some fascinating questions from our young aspiring international aspirants, before sharing their Gold and Silver Medals for the crowd to view and touch. A lot of the questions were asking if McDonald's could be a staple in their diet as a rower - but we won't go there!
The sisters, accompanied by one of our other Olympians, Georgia Nugent- O’Leary, were later able to be available to present the prizes to the successful Billy Webb Race competitors.
They were also acknowledged by the large crowd for their own Olympic endeavours, receiving a beautiful locally handmade glass trophy from Whanganui Mayor, Andrew Tripe.
Billy Webb Results 2023
AWRC’s 18 entries dominated this years event, comprising 50% of the overall entries which included last years winner from Wellington Rowing Club, Oliver Fahey in his single, who achieved the fastest time of 23:53.77.
Second fastest was AWRC entry Dan Dutson-Smith, who is from Hereford Rowing Club and along with three others from that Club, joined AWRC for the last 6 weeks of the NZ domestic season.
However, based on overall prognostics, the title this year went to Messina Su’a, from Aramoho Whanganui Rowing Club, who secured $500.00 prize money for her efforts!
North Island Club Championships 27-29 January at Lake Karapiro
Our Club enjoyed its most successful North Island Club Championships since 2018 and despite challenging weather and water conditions our club secured 17 A Finals, 8 B Finals from 29 entries – an outstanding performance!
Gold Medalists were:
Womens (Composite) Club Coxless Quad
Reeve Watson, Messina Su’a, Sabine Lapointe (Gisborne) and Robyn Van Dijk (Absent) pictured with Dave Dudley.
Mens Senior Coxless Quad
Gabe Reynolds, Axel Dickinson, Tom Monaghan, and Luke Shannon.
Mens Club Coxless Four which featured our four “visitors” from Hereford Rowing Club (UK) Dan Dutson-Smith, Ethan Chick, Henry Fraser and Alfie Wynter.
Silver Medals went to:
Mens Senior Coxless Pair of Axel Dickinson and Gabe Reynolds
Womens Novice Octuple comprising Lauren Davies. Te Potaka-Osborne-Milner-Skudder, Mae Emmett, Ruby Armishaw, Addison Jenkins, Ava McDonough, Lacy Gilmore, Jessica Head coxed by Megan Wood.
Womens Intermediate Octuple comprising Robyn van Dijk, Bea Douglas, Hazel Engert-Rogers, Keira Barnett, Charlotte Matthews, Sam Rooke, Lily-Rose Flack, Stella Perry coxed by Megan Wood.
Womens Novice Coxed Quad of Te Potaka-Osborne-Milner-Skudder, Mae Emmett, Addison Jenkins, Lauren Davies coxed by Rylee Dudley.
Mens (Composite) Intermediate Coxed Quad of Clayton Potts (Clifton), Jake Newton, William Herd, Nicky Maxim coxed by Patrick Hearn-Powers (Clifton).
Womens Intermediate Coxed Quad comprising Robyn van Dijk, Bea Douglas, Mae Emmett, Charlotte Matthews coxed by Rylee Dudley.
In the very competitive A Finals the Club secured 3 Bronze medals, including Jackie Gowler in the Womens Premier 1X (an interesting venture into single sculling for her).
More great photos from the event
NZ Club Championships 2023
Last season the Club was unable to attend the NZ Champs (moved to Ruataniwha at short notice due to covid) however Aramoho Whanganui Rowing Club strongly featured this year with 23 of our club athletes competing and achieving an impressive 17 A Finals and 3 B Finals.
Three Gold Medals were secured:
Mens (Composite) Intermediate Coxed Quad of Jake Newton, Clayton Potts (Clifton), William Herd, and Nicky Maxim
Womens Premier Coxless Pair which saw Jackie Gowler combining with Catherine Layburn from the North Shore Rowing Club, to win another “Red Coat” for our Club.
Nicky Maxim and Jake Newton took out the Mens Novice 2X in imperious fashion securing them a second Gold Medal at the NZ Championships!
A Silver Medal was won by an impressive (composite) Womens Club Quad of
Robyn van Dijk, Sabine Lapointe (Gisborne), Messina Su’a and Reeve Watson.
Messina Su’a – Under 21 NZ Triallist
Congratulations to Messina in being chosen to trial for the NZ Under 21 Rowing Team. Messina has been a dedicated athlete since starting as a Novice in 2018 and is now moving to Otago University to pursue her academic aspirations – we wish her well!
We also secured a Bronze Medal with our very young crew of Te Atakura Potaka Osborne Milner Skudder, Mae Emmett, Addison Jenkins and Lauren Davies coxed very ably by Rylee Dudley.
A massive thanks goes to coaches Dave, Axel, plus Luffy and Lance (who were unable to attend), along with Camp Mother Colleen Dudley and parents Haley, Cinderella, and Jeremy.
A special “Thank You” also goes to Lisa Murphy for her time