This winter has marked an exciting new chapter for rowing across the region, with the Wellington Rowing Association launching a suite of development programmes designed to support athletes at every stage of their rowing journey. Wellington Rowing Club is delighted to be playing a central role, hosting the land-based training for two of the programmes from our clubhouse.

The new initiative has been developed to create clear development pathways for secondary school and club athletes, while strengthening collaboration across Wellington's rowing community. By bringing athletes from different clubs together throughout the winter, the programmes aim to build skills, friendships and regional pride that will benefit everyone when the racing season begins.

Wellington Rowing Club’s representative on the WRA Board, Jamie Fitzgerald said he was thrilled with the uptake and collaboration between clubs.

“Across the three programmes we have 90 athletes. That’s one in four licenced competitors from our region!

“It’s so special that we can work together and create these opportunities. This is absolutely a first for Wellington, and other regions are looking at what we’re doing”, Jamie says. 

Three programmes have been established, each tailored to a different stage of development.

Row For Life is designed for Year 11 rowers and focuses on making rowing enjoyable while building confidence, friendships and healthy habits. Athletes train together once a week in mixed crews, develop broader wellbeing skills and prepare for the Manawatū Grunt at the end of August. The emphasis is firmly on participation, enjoyment and creating a lifelong connection with the sport.

For more experienced school athletes, Row For Gold provides a more structured training environment for Year 12 rowers. Participants complete three coached sessions each week, including Tuesday and Thursday erg sessions hosted upstairs at Wellington Rowing Club, alongside weekend water sessions. The programme introduces regular testing, structured training plans and opportunities to race in mixed crews, helping athletes prepare for the next level of competition.

The third programme, the Winter Development Hub, is aimed at committed adult club members and high-performing Year 13 athletes. Also based at Wellington Rowing Club for its weekday training sessions, the Hub offers a comprehensive programme including coached erg sessions, weekend rowing, performance testing and a training camp in Whanganui over Matariki weekend incorporating a long-distance race. The programme will culminate at the Manawatū Grunt, after which the Wellington Interprovincial Team will be selected to represent the region in September.

Importantly, these programmes are being made as accessible as possible through fundraising initiatives and grant support secured by the Wellington Rowing Association. Athletes also receive programme-specific apparel, including squad rowsuits or thermal tops, helping create a strong sense of identity and belonging.

For Wellington Rowing Club, hosting these programmes is an excellent opportunity to support the wider rowing community while showcasing our facilities as a hub for regional development. It's also a chance for our members to see athletes from across the region training together with a shared goal of lifting the standard of Wellington rowing.

“The Waimarino shed has made it easier for people to get to know each other and enjoy more of what our sport can offer. The collaborative approach to the erg training room upstairs at the Club can offer the same thing. All Wellington-based squads will become more competitive nationally if we support each other more locally”, Jamie says. 

We look forward to following the athletes' progress over the coming months and wish everyone involved the very best as they prepare for the Manawatū Grunt and, for some, selection to represent Wellington at the Interprovincials later this year.

Article added: Saturday 11 July 2026