ROWING 2024
Real athletes row, the rest just play games
Kia Ora Welcome
For those returning to the sport, you know already of the fun, enjoyment and camaraderie that exists in rowing. To our new rowers and their parents, we welcome you. You are about to experience a quality sporting opportunity unique to rowing. You will be participating in the most demanding and rewarding of team sports.
QMC Rowing is a sport within the College's sports structure. We operate in conjunction with the Star Boating Club to which each girl is a financial member. The College rowing programme is carried out by a dedicated team of staff, coaches and parents. The Queen Margaret College Rowing Management Team is committed to encouraging, training and coaching motivated and enthusiastic young women whose personality and physical characteristics are suited to competing in rowing to a high standard.
This sport consists of multiple training camps and regattas across the country that is a huge logistical exercise. In order for it to be successful we require all parents to commit to assisting in running and attending some of these camps, providing the meals and supporting the girls at these events.
Rowing is a family affair and for its success it needs all the cogs to be working well together. As well as the financial commitment, there is the rowing community commitment. There are many weekends away, early morning trainings and regattas across the country that need the whole team and their families to fully support. We ask that you read this booklet.
This booklet will provide extensive information on the structure, logistics and framework of QMC Rowing. We look forward to your continued involvement and support of QMC Rowing.
Troy Jennings Sport Director
QMC Rowing Structure
ROWING DIRECTOR
Matt Kavanagh is the QMC Rowing Director. Matt is currently the Head of Mathematics at QMC. Matt will be present at major regattas and training camps and will oversee the following throughout the season:
ϐ QMC rowing style
ϐ Priority boats entered into regattas
ϐ Selection of crews
ϐ QMC rowing calendar
ϐ Training schedules
ϐ Parent/rower meetings
ϐ Boat allocation
Matt brings a wealth of experience and knowledge into this position. His calm demeanor, approachability and ability to communicate effectively with students and adults will impact positively on all aspects of the coming season.
COACHING STAFF
Allen Ward, Oliver Fahey, Bianca Martin and Matt Kavanagh will all contribute to the coaching of the QMC crews. There will be a team coaching approach.
PARENT HELP
Rowing really is a family affair and for its success it needs all the cogs to be working well together. As well as the financial commitment, there is the rowing community commitment. There are many weekends away, early morning trainings and regattas across the country that need the whole team and their families to fully support.
All parents are asked to complete a form indicating their availability to help at camps and regattas at the start of the season. Camps and regattas cannot happen without parental support. A roster of parent help will be put together at the start of the season and this will be made available to all parents. Parents must have helped at earlier camps and regattas to be eligible to help at North Islands or Maadi Cup.
To get the best out of rowing for the whole community, we need as much parent help as is available. Be it fundraising, logistics, driving coach boats, supervising circuits to fundraising, organizing logistics, driving coach boats, supervising circuits to organizing meals, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact Parent coordinator Sarah Baylis ksbaylis@gmail.com | 0274820022
CONTACT INFORMATION
Star Boating Club
Queen Margaret College has been affiliated with Star Boating Club since 1990. Star Boating Club was established in 1866 and is the second oldest rowing club in New Zealand. Star provides the infrastructure for QMC to offer rowing as a sport.
The club provides extra boats for training and racing when needed, storage of QMC boats, club rooms, access via Frank Kitts lagoon to Wellington Harbour and land based training facilities and equipment. Wellington College, Wellington East Girls College, Wellington Girls College, and Scots College are also affiliated with Star.
As with all financial members, QMC rowers must abide by the Governance Policies and Health and Safety Program set down by Star Boating Club. All QMC rowers must join Star Boating Club.
More information can be found on the Star Boating Club website http://www.starboatingclub.com.
The competition rowing programme within New Zealand is predominantly club based with only a small number of college regattas. Therefore as a QMC Rower your daughter will be primarily racing and representing Star Boating Club and will therefore require both a Star unitard and a Queen Margaret College unitard.
Star Boating Club Membership Link
Values & QMC Rowing Community Commitment
TO STRIVE FOR SUCCESS
It is important that all rowers have a desire to succeed. Rowing is not offered as a social sport so all rowers need to be prepared to push themselves beyond their comfort zone every time they train and compete. While not all will be successful at a national level, we encourage all rowers to strive to be the best they can.
TO ENJOY ALL ASPECTS OF QMC ROWING
We encourage ‘fun, fitness and friendship’. It is hoped rowing at QMC will be enjoyed by all involved; students, parents, coaches, staff and supporters. There are a number of sporting opportunities at QMC and for rowing to be successful students must make it their top priority.
TO BE ALL INCLUSIVE
Rowing will only be a success at QMC if ‘a team’ approach is adopted. There are teams within teams throughout the framework of rowing.
The main ‘teams’ consist of the rowers (regardless of crew selection), the parents, the coaches and the school. Members need to be supportive of others within their own ‘team’, and in other ‘teams’ for all other objectives to be reached.
TO BE AMBASSADORS OF QMC
Rowing is very much in the public eye. All rowers, parents and coaches will conduct themselves in a manner that is appropriate to the occasion at all times.
COMMITMENT
In the electronic permission forms you will be asked to acknowledge the following:
I/we have discussed the Values and Rowing Community Commitment with our daughter and can confirm we will abide by its contents, and that she will attend all trainings and team events including boat loading and unloading and we will commit to supporting our daughter at at least one camp per season, preparing the food for the camps and ensuring that she gets to her training and team events.
"Learn to Row"
6 WEEK PROGRAMME
At the beginning of every season QMC offers a “Learn to Row" programme for those interested in joining the rowing squad.
"Learn to Row" gives students the chance to get a feel for rowing before making a full commitment, and allows the coaches to determine whether rowing is suitable for your daughter. This year the "Learn to Row" programme will commence in Week 3 of Term 3 and will run for 6 weeks.
The programme will offer three training sessions per week and girls are expected to attend at least two of those sessions each week, although we strongly advise attending all three sessions if they are able to.
Sessions available: Mondays at 4pm, Thursdays at 4pm, Sundays at 2pm.
QMC girls in Years 9, 10, 11 and 12 are eligible to join the learn to row programme and in turn the rowing squad after a selection process at the end of the learn to row programme. We are limited by Star Boating Club with the number of rowers we can take each season.
The cost of the "Learn to Row" program is $300 per student, this will be charged to your daughter’s account. Near the completion of the programme the girls must decide whether they wish to continue with rowing and the coaches will then consider their suitability and run trials if they deem this necessary. Once the selection is final and agreed the girls will become members of Star Boating Club and are then registered with Rowing New Zealand.
Please have a look at the training schedule, the training
camps and regattas on the following pages to assist with your decision on whether rowing is suitable for your daughter. We do require the girls to attend all trainings each week with the exception of pre-arranged absences. This is a team sport and when girls miss trainings it means the teams can not train properly.
Rowing is a big commitment for the girls and parents and other family members. Parents are needed to attend camps and regattas and both students and their parents are expected to be involved in fundraising.
Depending on the number of students interested in joining the rowing squad trials may need to be held during this period at all levels and age groups if necessary.
Training Programme
The majority of our training takes place at or from Star Boating Club on Taranaki Street Wharf, with some sessions at the QMC gym.
Do not underestimate the amount of time required especially in January, February and March. The intention is to have a maximum of six trainings a week during this time and use only 1 day over a weekend – not both.
From time to time if the weather permits the coaches may decide on an alternative day or time for training. These changes will be communicated over the Team App.
Please ensure that all parents and rowers have downloaded the Team App as this is where all training communications will be posted.
We will ensure that all training sessions are well planned and thought through. The training schedule will be sequential and will build as the season develops with the goal of peaking to perform at major regattas and then
Training Camps and Regattas
Regatta / Training
Spring Camp
Porirua Goodwill Cup Regatta
Norton Cup Regatta
Whanganui Training Camp
Jury Cup Regatta (part of camp)
KR1 Regatta
Summer Camp
North Island Club Champs
Wellington Provincial Champs
Last Chance Camp
– 10 October 2024
23 November 2024 Compulsory
4 – 7 December 2024 Compulsory
– Cambridge 23 – 26 January 2025 Compulsory
1 February 2025 (Reserve 2 February) Compulsory
14 – 16 February 2025 Compulsory
Aon Junior Regatta Karapiro – Cambridge 21 – 23 February 2025 Compulsory
McLachlan Shield
North Islands Secondary Schools Champs
Maadi Cup
1 March 2025 (Reserve 2 March) Compulsory
–
Physical Well-being
CIRCUIT, STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING SESSIONS
Circuit, strength and conditioning sessions are an essential part of rowing training. These sessions will be held weekly at QMC.
Circuit, strength and conditioning sessions are an essential part of rowing training. These sessions will be held weekly at QMC.
It is important the girls use the correct technique when performing any of the required exercises as the incorrect technique could result in injury.
Erg sessions are also used as a regular training tool especially when the water is not conducive to a water session, which happens often in Wellington.
HEALTH & SAFETY
To ensure the safety of our rowers each rower will get checked to look at core strength, technique, and back mobility and maintenance. This will be completed prior to Spring camp. Follow up sessions will then be held if necessary and advice around strength and conditioning and injury prevention will be advised to each rower. We ask that the coaching staff and manager are advised of any injuries so the rower’s training programme can be adjusted accordingly. It is imperative rowers and parents are honest about injuries so a crew’s progress is not adversely affected.
PHYSIO
The school is able to provide an active physiotherapy service at QMC. Providing the injury is ACC covered there will be no cost to the student. Students will be released from class to attend their Physio session. An initial appointment will be 30 minutes plus any follow up 15 minutes in length. Bookings are made through the sports office.sport@qmc.school.nz Further information will be made available through school communications.
QMC Rowing Uniform
The majority of regattas are Club competitions QMC races for Star Boating Club. For all other regattas girls compete for Queen Margaret College. The annual approx. cost for rowing does not include uniform.
ϐ Star Boating Club Rowing Unitard – Blue and white horizontal stripes (approx. $130)
ϐ QMC unitard – available from NZ Uniforms shop (approx. $160)
ϐ QMC white PE sports shirt
ϐ QMC navy blue PE shorts
ϐ QMC sports hoody
ϐ QMC sports bag
ϐ White 2XU nylon cap –direct from 2XU website or sports stores (approx. $22)
ϐ QMC white long sleeve warm up tee – supplied by the sports department.
The QMC rowing kit will be available from the QMC Uniform shop. The Star Boating Club unitard and optional t-shirt can be purchased from the club through a special order which you will be advised of. All athletes are expected to take pride in wearing clubs or College colours when racing and will therefore take measures to ensure they are cleaned and repaired when necessary or replaced if seriously damaged.
Coxswain
The Coxswain is the most important member of any four or eight crew. Coxswains must be short or slim in stature, calm under pressure, outgoing, positive in attitude, confident, a real team player and be willing to learn new skills. Not only is she responsible for the very basics of organising a crew at training or competitions, but also launching and landing a boat.
The Cox is in charge of keeping a crew focused and motivated during training and competitions implementing agreed race plans being responsible for the on water safety of their crew implementing the coaches training instructions and acting as an on water coach.
They learn to recognise rower’s faults within the boat and help to correct them, they learn to manage and lead their crew through communication and they learn to respect and gain the respect of their crew.
On top of all of this they must also learn to scull because some good coxes only last a season before they are unable to squeeze into the cox’s seat and want to progress into a crew as a rower.
If your daughter says “I want to be a Coxswain” then please encourage her to do so. She can become one of the greatest assets to the programme and like any rower can go on to achieve great things. Coxswains also get more racing than anyone else!
Crew Selection and Goal Setting
SELECTION
The following attributes will contribute to crew selection. The Rowing Director will be the ultimate decision maker.
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
The overall performance of each rower will be considered when selecting crews. The list of criteria below will help build an overall picture of each rower’s ability and will enable coaches to select the fastest rowers for our high performance events. The rankings and selection process will not be displayed in any one place (to avoid stress for some rowers) but will most definitely be made available on request.
Consistency in training sessions
Seat racing results
The consistency of a rower’s performance in training sessions will be looked at, including their attitude and approach to training, as well as their performance outcomes in sessions both on and off the water.
Technique
Technical ability will also be assessed. In a sport such as rowing, certain seats within each boat have a different role to play, so technical ability will always be considered when selecting for a certain seat in a boat. Any second year plus rower must be competent to train in small boats.
Erg scores & general fitness
Seat racing will take place across all age groups at key points throughout the season. This is to test the difference each rower makes to the overall boat speed of a crew. These will mostly take place at training camps.
Racing experience / past performance
Where applicable, a rower’s past successes and performances throughout their rowing journey will be considered.
Erg scores will assist the coaches to see who is improving their fitness and their mental approach to racing. Erg scores are a good measure for a rower’s personal development. They also allow the coaches to see a rower’s mind set during a stressful race-type simulation situation. It is expected that all rowers will be achieving an 8min 30sec or faster erg time by the first 2K erg test of the season.
GOAL SETTING
Goal setting is an important part of the QMC rowing journey. There should be consideration given to personal development and performance goals as individuals, as well as overall crew, team and squad goals.
Rowers are strongly encouraged to write their goals down and keep a record of their training progress and other significant factors that contribute to overall performance (i.e. sleep patterns, nutrition, school work load and other commitments etc).
OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER
Attitude/ Teamwork / Dedication
It is important for our rowers to identify as being part of a wider team. A rower with team-mindset, with a positive attitude and who is highly motivated will be far more likely to be selected over those with a more individualistic approach. Attitude towards coaches, staff, fellow rowers and parents is most important. Attendance is vital. It is important to have cohesiveness within crews, so those who consistently attend training are likely to be favoured for selection.
Rowers who are constantly injured or who do not take care of their nutrition can often see their performance deteriorate on race day. As this will negatively impact the whole team, health and wellbeing will always be considered.
The Rowing Director will meet with rowers to report progress, give feedback and to share the intentions and goals for each squad. Rowers will also be able to share any personal goals that they may have. Coaches will also provide ongoing feedback to the girls throughout the season and welcome further discussions about how rowers can achieve their personal goals.
Individual goals could include:
ϐ 2km erg test scores
ϐ Training erg performances
ϐ Improved running ability/performance
ϐ Stress and anxiety management before tests and races
ϐ Mental toughness
ϐ Top crew selection
ϐ Technical ability
QMC ROWING TEAM GOALS
Each season, the school will work with coaches to outline key events to target at major regattas to raise the profile of both our rowers and our rowing programme. Progress and early results will of course guide the rest of the season. Each season, these goals will change depending on the spread of ages across the whole squad.
Crew goals could include:
ϐ Crew 2km racing times
ϐ Outperforming other schools/crews/ competitors
ϐ Technical drill ability
ϐ Regatta rankings
ϐ Crew bests/records
ϐ Qualifying for finals at major regattas
Regatta qualification
Each rowing season it is the aim of the coaches that your daughter will represent Queen Margaret College at a number of senior New Zealand Rowing Association and New Zealand Secondary Schools regattas. Due to the increase in popularity of the sport, specifically in college level rowing, the officials at these specific regattas have been limiting the number of events a rower may enter and also limiting the number of entries schools and clubs can enter in certain events.
Entries are limited to three per rower. In addition to this there is also a limit on the number of crews each club / school can enter into an event. (An event being the boat category/ age group / or rowers classification).
Below is the New Zealand Secondary Schools ruling allowing an association to limit boat entries,
NORTH ISLAND CLUB CHAMPS
ϐ In 2024/2025 Star Boating Club is expected to be limited to two entries per event per school for this regatta.
NORTH ISLAND SECONDARY SCHOOLS CHAMPS PROGRAMME
ϐ Schools are limited to a maximum of TWO crews in every event; except singles and doubles which are limited to one.
ϐ After close of entries Regatta Control may call for supplementary entries to fill extra races and/or some of the lanes that would otherwise be empty during heats.
It is the coaching staff’s intention and desire for the girls to be able to compete in the regulated number of events where and when possible. This would mean rowers may attend a regatta to compete anywhere between one to three events depending on the grade or event. Please note that each event usually requires up to three races to reach the finals. No rower can be entered in more than three events.
MAADI CUP
Only selected rowers will be eligible to represent the College at Maadi Cup.
The Rowing Director will take into consideration the following:
ϐ an A or B Final in any of the KR regattas (An A Final will be an automatic entry, provided the event is offered at Maadi)
ϐ consistency in technique, seat racing and erg test results
ϐ state of rower injuries and illnesses at the time of entries closing
ϐ Rowers attitude throughout the season
Novice rowers will not be eligible to compete at the Maadi Cup unless under exceptional circumstances.
All decisions around attendance at Maadi Cup will be at the discretion of the Rowing Director, in consultation with the sports department and coaches.
Parental guide
At the beginning of the season the training schedule is light but as the season progresses it will absorb a significant percentage of time. From about late January through to April in the lead up to the North Island Secondary Schools Champs at Karapiro and National Secondary Schools Champs at (either) Karapiro or Ruataniwha your daughter will sleep, eat, go to school and row. Parents and students need to understand that there is little time for other sports and activities during this period.
You will actually find that if your daughter is completely serious about her rowing and reaching both of the NZ College Championships she will self regulate her social life, so it doesn’t impact on her training. You will also find that from about late August and towards the end of winter sports your daughter will need to make a decision about rowing and her commitment to it. Once her coach begins to form the potential crew structures, dropping out means that the continuation of the whole crew maybe threatened.
DAUGHTERS COMMITMENT
Once established in a crew your daughter has an obligation to the rest of her crew. The commitment is not only rowing, but also to others in the squad as well. This means that missing trainings or regattas impacts on a number of other girls who have also been training hard.
All girls are required to prepare boats before and after trainings. Parents need to be aware of this, as all members of the crew will be expected to help with boat maintenance at every training and regatta. When attending a regatta, whether local or regional, no one will leave a regatta until the boat loading is completed. This could be some hours after your daughter’s last race. This helps students learn about the boats how they work and how they are put together and is an integral part or rowing. All rowers are expected at every boat loading and unloading.
PARENT COMMITMENT
There is also a commitment required of parents. Without your support the crews cannot attend the regattas, camps or championships throughout the season. This means on occasion they need parental help to drive girls to a regatta, attend regional regattas and camps, to assist with looking after the girls, cooking and fundraising. At the beginning of each season a roster is put together to give you the opportunity to see when you can help. As you would appreciate this is quite a logistical exercise so commitment to dates is requested early, and as with the girls, once assigned to a regatta or camp, parents are relied upon to honor that commitment.
What we find is that parents become addicted to the sport just like the girls. Parents become such an asset and have a great time when away. Without your parental support, the coaching staff, your daughter and her crew mates cannot enjoy the experience that rowing can offer.
SUPPORTERS
You will also find once your daughter becomes involved with rowing her family become involved, with grandparents and extended family turning up to watch her racing. Rowing becomes a family affair and QMC Rowing is a large extended family.
NUTRITION
Often the nutritional level your daughter requires to produce a high level performance and the nutritional level she believes she needs for daily survival can be quite different. You as her parents need to be aware of this.
When girls are training at a high level their nutritional needs will be greater than normal. So it is important that they are eating enough to give them the energy they need for the day. Nutrition for a general school day means they need food before and after each training session. They need food to carry them through the day, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea prior to training and a snack after training and dinner.
There is a book you can locate on 'Nutrition for Young Rowers' which highlights the main factors to be considered. This is not just a high carbohydrate diet, but needs to be balanced as these young ladies are still growing and developing. It is not only food you need to be aware that their fluid intake levels should also be increasing.
SLEEP
Your daughter will need lots of sleep. The level of exercise that the rowers work up to through the season requires that they are well rested. The early mornings and hard training combined with school work, necessitate reasonably early nights or they will “run out of steam”.
Girls also need to be aware that a late night out is not necessarily the best preparation for a hard day of rowing and they will be letting the team down if they do not make carefully considered decisions in this regard. You will find that once again your daughter when committed to rowing will self-regulate this part of her life. We see many who have an active social life but know where to draw the line.
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
If you are concerned at all about your daughters mental or physical health please speak up, often parents early intuition and intervention can prevent and or minimise what could have otherwise contrive to be detrimental to your daughters long term health and well-being.
OPPORTUNITIES
Rowing has the ability to draw the best out of your daughter and may place her in situations where she becomes the focal point of international university coaching scouts. Over the past few years larger numbers of young New Zealand rowers have been accepted to prestigious overseas universities on rowing scholarships. There are also scholarship programmes in New Zealand.
ACADEMICS
In previous years the coaches have heard from the parents of girls taking part in the rowing programme that their daughter's commitment and attitude towards her school work and assignments has dramatically improved.
Even our Principal has commented that QMC Rowing has some of the most academic girls in the college taking part in the sport and succeeding at both. This is testament to the high standards we expect and demand from the girls in both their training and school work.
Estimated cost
Families are charged the actual costs of running the programme and are charged throughout the season.There is a fine balance between the quality and cost of the accommodation, transport and food and any fundraising initiatives done throughout the year. It is also related to the number of rowers and logistics required to get everyone to and from and getting the food and accommodation. Anyone interested in assisting with the finances and logistics or fundraising, please contact the team manager.
Each member of Star Boating Club must pay an annual subscription fee. For college students, this is approximately $825.00 for competitive rowers and $425.00 for coxswains, these figures are yet to be confirmed by Star Boating Club for the coming season. These subscriptions will be invoiced through the school usually prior to Christmas.
Costs/Fees cover such things as food, transport, petrol, accommodation, race fees, and Star Boating Club fees. Costs for those going to Maadi in Twizel are higher than Karapiro years – this cost is in addition to the season fees and will be advised closer to the event. Fees will be billed after each regatta and camp. Payments are made to the school. Any rower who has not paid their fees (excluding NISS and Maadi) and rowing costs in full to the school by the end of February will not be eligible to go to Nationals (Maadi).
Costs not included in the fees are uniforms and incidentals like takeaways while travelling. The money we pay to Star Boating Club includes use of the facility, use of club boats, coach boats, fuel, insurance, registration with NZ Rowing Association etc.
Capital and Coach Fee – A compulsory cost of $1000 for every rower. This must be paid by 30 November 2024 and will be invoiced on your school account. Please note fundraising efforts will be over and above this cost
Fundraising efforts will dictate the final rowing costs for the season. Without fundraising the costs will be in excess of $6000, which includes Star Boating Club fees but excludes Maadi Cup.
National Secondary Schools Championship Regatta (Maadi cup) is treated as a separate cost as the regatta is alternated from Lake Karapiro Cambridge to Lake Ruataniwha, Twizel and only selected rowers attend.
This year Maadi Cup will be in Karapiro.
QMC covers the operating costs of existing capital equipment ie. insurance and upkeep on the equipment plus QMC contributes to all coach honorariums and
Fundraising
Rowing is a capital intensive sport so every year the QMC Rowing team budgets to raise a substantial amount of money to buy and replace the equipment required for the sport – for example replacing an eight would cost around $50,000, replacing an oar is around $1,000. There are also maintenance and replacement costs for riggers, shoes, cox boxes, trailer and the like.
It is expected that all girls and their families are involved and play their part in helping with fundraising and sponsorship activities to ensure we have the equipment necessary for the rowing squad to function and for your daughter to get the most from the sport. Over the last few seasons, we have raised funds through such things as serving at Stadium events and selling wine and whitebait.
