Years 9-13 Rowing 2025/26

​​​​​​​ROWING AT MARSDEN

Rowing is available to all students from Year 9 upwards - this is a change from prior years where Year 8 was the entry year.

Rowing is a unique high intensity sport, and perhaps the ultimate team sport.  This means that the girls work together and support each other.  While it is important that the girls enjoy their rowing, we also expect them to work hard, be committed and have a good attitude towards each other.

The competitive summer rowing season runs from September to March. During winter a Strength & Conditioning Programme is usually offerred to senior squad members - this training is optional and winter  sport commitments take priority through Term 2 and 3. Once winter sport is complete the number of training sessions steadily increase from September to March in preparation for the Junior Regatta, the North Island Secondary Schools Championships (NISS) and for selected girls the Maadi Regatta.

For parents, the sport of rowing is also quite demanding, but can be extremely fulfilling.  You can expect to be a taxi driver, help out at events and assist in fundraising. Further, the demands of rowing provide healthy challenges to your daughter, so they may need some guidance to become self-reliant in an intense sporting environment.  As a parent you will also become a member of a much larger family and develop new friendships with other parents.​​​​​​​

OUR PROGRAMMES

LEARN TO ROW

The 4-week Spring Learn to Row Programme starts on 8th September and includes the first 3 weeks in Wellington, then a 6-day camp in Karapiro during the school holidays rowing on the lake from 28 September–3 October.  Learn to Row finishes on the last day of camp.

This programme is available to students from Year 8 upwards who are interested in rowing.

This programme teaches students the basics of the rowing stroke and gives then an introduction to the sport.  At the completion of the programme students can continue onto the summer rowing season starting mid October.

The fee last year was $800 (including GST) – includes Wellington Rowing Club Fees, coaching, camp for 5 nights away.  The final fee will be confirmed once enrolment numbers are know.

RETURN TO ROW

The 6-week Spring Return to Row Programme starting on 1st September includes the first 4 weeks in Wellington, then a 6-day camp in Karapiro during the school holidays rowing on the lake from 28 September–3 October, followed by another week back in Wellington.

This programme is available to all returning rowers from previous seasons.

The fee last season was $840 (including GST) – includes Wellington Rowing Club Fees, coaching, camp for 5 nights away.The final fee will be confirmed once enrolment numbers are known.

MAIN SUMMER ROWING SEASON

The Main summer rowing season will start on Monday 22nd September and go through to early March, or late March for those girls who are selected for Maadi Regatta.

Training:
For Novices, summer training usually involves 4–5 sessions a week. These sessions are usually 2 hours long and involve rowing on the harbour (City or Petone) or doing fitness training in the Boat Club or at Marsden.

They are generally held from 4pm – 6pm weekdays and Saturday mornings.

For returning rowers training is generally 5–6 days a week. In the lead up to major competitions such as Maadi Regatta, students might have some days where they train before and after school.

Day Trips:

We undertake several trips to our Foxton/Moutoa base through the season which provide quality water time for the squad.

Camps:

Samuel Marsden Rowing spend time away in Karapiro for training camp in October and Whanganui in January.

FUTURE SEASON CAMP/REGATTA DATES

• 2025 Jury Cup - Whanganui - Fri 5 to Sat 6 Dec
• 2025 Xmas Regatta - Karapiro - Thu 11 to Mon 15 Dec
• 2026 Summer Camp - Whanganui - Sat 10 to Wed 14 Jan
• 2026 KR2 - Selected Crews Only - Karapiro - Thu 22 to Sun 25 Jan
• 2026 Staycation - Squad members not selected for KR2 - Sat 24 - Sun 25 Jan
• 2026 Junior Regatta - Karapiro - Fri 13 Feb to Sun 15 Feb
• 2026 NISS - Karapiro - Thu 5 to Sun 8 Mar
• 2026 Maadi Regatta - Selected Crews - Twizel - Wed 18 Mar to Sun 29 Mar

• 2027 Summer Cam​​​​​​​p - Whanganui - Thu 14 to Mon 18 Jan
• 2028 Summer Cam​​​​​​​p - Whanganui - Sat 8 to Wed 12 Jan
  

COMPETITIONS/REGATTAS

Marsden attends a range of competitions/regattas throughout the season. During the first half of the season, the rowing competitions are club events with rowers competing for Wellington Rowing Club generally held on Wellington Harbour and the Whanganui River.

During the second half of the season there are three major regattas at Lake Karapiro in Cambridge before competing at Maadi Regatta which is the largest secondary school sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere and the location alternates each year between Lake Ruataniwha, Twizel and Lake Karapiro, Cambridge.

Students qualify to be considered for selection for Maadi Regatta at the North Island Secondary School Championships - typically by reaching A or B finals.

COST

Rowing incurs considerable costs.We endeavour to keep our costs to the minimum possible and are proud to offer such an extensive program at the following fees:

• Fees for the Spring Season are confirmed once registrations are known but as an indication:

1. Return to Row – last season fee was $840 (incl GST).
2. Learn to Row – last season fee was $800 (incl GST).

• Fees for the Main Season are confirmed once registrations are known but as an indication:

1. Returning Rower - last season fee was $4,075 (including GST).
2. Novice Rower - last season fee was $3,775 (including GST).

INCLUSIONS The fees include the following costs:

• Coaching, gym access and yoga
• Wellington Rowing Club subscription fee
• Camp costs – food, accommodation, transport, petrol
• Regatta costs – food, accommodation, transport, entry fees, petrol
• Maintenance and repairs – boats, oars, cox boxes, trailers and all equipment
• Affiliation fees and administration cost

EXCLUSIONS The fees exclude the following costs:

• Flights to/from Hamilton – if your rower/cox attends these regattas - for Junior Regatta $366 (all rowers/coxes) and for attending NISS $412 (returning rowers/coxes).  Please note that confirmation of attendance at Junior and NISS must be made by 12th January - If attendance is confirmed by this date the flights are non-cancellable after this date and will be invoiced to you.

• Clothing/Uniform is a separate additional cost. Clothing for Novices – approx. $520 (incl GST) - Rowsuit (race uniform), short sleeve tech top, short sleeve travel top, bag, visor, cap, and WRC singlet.  There is also an optional long sleeve base layer and bucket hat.

• New plant purchases, skiffs, oars, coach boats, safety equipment, trailers etc. which are funded via fundraising, grants or sponsorship.

• There is an additional cost for selected returning rowers who attend Maadi Regatta.

UNIFORM

Marsden Rowing Zootie/Rowsuit or Wellington Rowing Club Singlet for regattas. Comfortable fitted sports gear for training.