ROWING NEW ZEALAND / ANNUAL REPORT 2020
DOMESTIC ROWING REPORT 2020 2 Jock Mackintosh, Domestic Committee Chairperson
020 was a unique year for rowing in many respects. For the first time ever, the Aon Maadi Cup was cancelled due to the onset of Covid-19 in New Zealand. This unprecedented cancellation did see a group of rowers miss out on the event that culminates their school rowing experience. This regatta became the first of many areas of life that faced disruption over the course of the year, but an ever-resilient group the school rowers overcame disappointment with much grace. Rowing NZ worked hard to provide clubs with guidance as the alert-level information was established and changed over the lockdown period. Getting club members back out on the water safely at a local level was the aim around the country.
Bruce Tong, Schools Committee Chairperson
Getting club members back out on the water safely at a local level was the aim around the country.
Annabel Ritchie, University Committee Chairperson
As the world turned to virtual socialisation and connection, so too did the rowing world, and Rowing NZ held a series of online rowing events, including the Anzac Day — 13 —
Indoor Rowing Challenge, Row to the Moon and the One Minute Challenge, to ensure participation and connection within our sport was maintained. Technology enabled these interactions and has been one of the major benefits we have garnered from the pandemic. Zoom has become second nature for many, and this has meant sharing, collaborating and consultation occurred more regularly and with a greater range of members. This engagement across our community was extremely beneficial for the sub-committee of the Domestic Rowing Committee, who developed the 2020 proposal for the Rocket Foods New Zealand Rowing Championships. The sub-committee consisted of Mat Jensen, Alex Meates and Natalie Matheson, along with board members Jock Macintosh and Gerry Dwyer, and staff members Annika Wing, Sonya Walker and Tim Wilson (before his departure in June 2020). The proposal was voted on unanimously by the associations for a first roll-out of the changes in 2021. The purpose of the changes was to excite those rowers already at the event but crucially to entice those who haven’t been attending (whether they are new or returning rowers). The changes provoke more connections through showcase racing (which also provides variety each year) and event-related social functions, and more
