College Rowing - an Introduction

The rowing season starts in September (start of training) and finishes in March or April at the conclusion of the Maadi Cup.  College rowers begin their season rowing and competing for the Nelson Rowing Club.  Once the Club season concludes mid-February, College rowers compete for their schools at South Island Secondary Schools and New Zealand Secondary School Championships (Maadi Cup regatta).

Maadi Cup regatta is the largest school sports event in the Southern Hemisphere!  There are around 155 schools and 2500 athletes that compete in secondary school rowing in New Zealand and Nelson Club Rowers are one of the top clubs. It is an amazing spectacle with thousands of supporters flocking to the final days of racing.

The grades raced at school regattas are U15, U16, U17, U18 and U18 novices. Boats raced are singles, doubles, quads, pairs, fours and eights.

At Nelson Rowing Club we are proud to have college rowers representing Nelson College, Nelson College for Girls and Waimea College.  Our College rowers have access to some of the best rowing equipment available and are provided with experienced high-quality coaching and off water support including gym training and nutritional advice.