Each fortnight I am driven to sit at my computer and settle on a suitable subject for this opinion piece.
Photo: Sharon Bennett
Sometimes it is obvious – but on other occasions I must dig deep to emerge with readable material to satisfy both editor and readers.
Peter Carr
So, what has attracted my attention this week? Maadi springs to mind as I have a lengthy background in volunteer work at Lake Karāpiro. A local gem if ever there was one. Not me – just the event.
As most locals will be aware, the lake was transformed from a dwindling trickle of the diverted Waikato River in 1948 when the war-delayed completion of the new (and final) dam was topped off. The delays were caused by shortages of materials and labour being syphoned off for war-related needs some years earlier.
Out of the sometimes-disputed bottom of the valley emerged a fine lake – the first sporting event upon the waters being that of the fledgling Cambridge Yacht Club who had to carry their boats some distance as the lake was only a quarter full initially.
It was clear to rowing aficionados that this expanse of water – free of tides, currents and commerce, would be an ideal spot to create a battleground for clubs and schools.
It culminated in being the venue for the 1950 British Empire Games where the name Don Rowlands is shown as being in the silver medal winning eight.
His name adorns the Don Rowlands Centre alongside Karāpiro Rowing’s finish tower.
Lake Karāpiro’s Mighty River Domain. Photo: Supplied.
It was clear Karāpiro was here to stay as the premier rowing venue in the country – relatively close to the epicentre of national population and adjacent to a very pleasant town.
World rowing events followed in 1978 and 2010 and drew huge numbers of competitors and supporters.
Last Saturday possibly up to 7000 people (rowers, supporters and race management) both ashore and afloat were at the Karāpiro Domain for the renowned Maadi Cup – a series of lively events where superbly fit senior school pupils battled it out for supremacy.
The cup itself, a very prestigious award, has been won 17 times by Whanganui Collegiate but this year it went back to Auckland thanks to the sterling efforts of Westlake Boys High School.
Any parent with keen rowing (and swimming) offspring is aware of the morning sacrifices made to meet training demands of the sport – and the associated costs.
The sport produces fine young adults, setting them up for life, with fit bodies, competitive minds and great contacts for future years.
It is to the volunteers of KRI that I raise my glass this week. A single race requires no less than 64 team members to check for required standards, control the launching, progressing the start, guiding down the course, assessing the results – all with an overall view of the demands of on-the-water safety.
This ensures families may relax, safe in the knowledge that their loved ones will step ashore (triumphant or otherwise) in one piece and thirsting for more.
King’s College of Auckland wins the under 15 boys’ coxed four despite Christchurch Boys High School supporters wandering into Lake Karāpiro to offer their support to their team which finished third. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
