Chair, Allan RuBay (with Eilish Dockery) receives best cox award. Photo Ngaire Whitiora
Kāwhia’s historic whaleboats had yet another moment in the sun on New Year’s Day.
Kawhia women’s team, from left, Kelly Clarke, Selina Wehi, Ali Davy and Waipono Jerry. Photo Ngaire Whitiora
For more than a century, the Kāwhia Rowing Regatta has kept a piece of community history alive and in action.
This year top honours went to the home crews, Kāwhia Rowing Regatta Club.
“Te Waitere Boating Club won their event on December 27 and Kāwhia won our regatta on New Year’s Day, but it was really close. We ended up winning overall based on total points” Kawhia club secretary and treasurer Kelly Dockery said.
One of the three King Country clubs that usually contest the regatta was unable to make the starting line this time.
“It was just Te Waitere and Kāwhia competing this year because Ōpārau couldn’t quite get enough people together for a team, but apart from that, everything was sweet as.”
Wild weather had thinned the crowd somewhat in the days prior to the regatta, encouraging some not so happy campers to abandon ship.
“A horrendous wind had been blowing tents to pieces, so there wasn’t as big a crowd as it probably would have been if the weather had been better,” Dockery said.
“Quite often, it’s raining or really windy, but the conditions this year were great for rowing. We were lucky, we really kind of squeaked by after having that horrible weather beforehand.”
The clubs will now take a break before gearing up again later in the year.
“The boats are back in the shed now for probably a good six months until we start training again for next season.”
Kawhia women’s team: LtoR – Waipono Jerry, Selina Wehi, Ali Davy, Elizabeth Thom-Parnell and Kelly Clarke. Photo Ngaire Whitiora
