New Zealand Rowing Club Celebrates 150 Years, 5 Gold Medals

A rowing club in a small New Zealand town has trained five Olympic gold medallists over its 150-year history, proving that world-class athletes can emerge from anywhere.

Hawke's Bay Rowing Club in Clive is celebrating its sesquicentennial this weekend with a sold-out gala, a group row along the river, and an online auction featuring oars painted by local artists. Olympic champions Emma Twigg and Keith Trask will join current and former members for the festivities.

The club's impressive roster includes Twigg, Tom Mackintosh, twins Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell, and Trask. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, both Twigg and Mackintosh represented New Zealand as single scullers, a remarkable achievement for one small club.

Club president Carina Lack has been part of the rowing community for 25 years. "Once you are in you kind of can't get out," she said, describing the strong bonds that keep members connected across generations.

The club currently serves about 120 competitive rowers, mostly school-aged athletes and masters rowers over 27. The weekend auction will raise funds for a new quad boat, ensuring future generations have the equipment they need to pursue their Olympic dreams.

The Ripple Effect

What makes this story remarkable isn't just the medal count. It's how a community of volunteers has sustained a culture of excellence for 150 years, creating opportunities for young athletes who might never have access to elite training otherwise.

Twigg herself is giving back by offering to take one lucky auction winner rowing on Sunday morning. The gesture captures the spirit that has kept the club thriving: champions helping the next wave of rowers discover their potential.

Local artists like Josh Lancaster contributed painted oars for the auction, showing how the entire Hawke's Bay community has rallied around the club's milestone. When a sports club lasts 150 years, it becomes more than athletics - it becomes a thread connecting generations.

The celebration proves that small communities can create big opportunities when they invest in their young people.