About UsThe Onslow College Rowing Club (OCRC) is the sole provider of College representative rowing within the Onslow College community and is affiliated to the Wellington Rowing Club.
Rowing began at Onslow College in the late 1950's and has seen a major growth in recent years. The physical and mental challenges this sport offers and the demands of a team culture has attracted many students to give rowing a go. Onslow College Rowing aims to develop excellence in both sporting results and personal conduct of each rower achieved through dedication to training, developing teamwork, friendships and having fun while learning. |
A glimpse into rowing life...
Rowing can be logistically demanding and requires both personal and financial commitment. However, the payback can be huge.
Students often gain an infectious desire to succeed and are proud to represent the Onslow College rowing team and as a consequence, Onslow College has enjoyed some excellent results in this sport.
The skills students learn for success both on and off the water, skills for time management and organisation, commitment, the team work, friendships, work ethic, fitness, etc are something a bit different to most other school sports and also serves as a positive influence on academic work.
If winter sport is also a passion, then a summer of rowing will make the winter sports trials a breeze! Additionally, most Universities and employers know what it takes to be a school rower and to put that on your school life CV makes a good impression.
Students often gain an infectious desire to succeed and are proud to represent the Onslow College rowing team and as a consequence, Onslow College has enjoyed some excellent results in this sport.
The skills students learn for success both on and off the water, skills for time management and organisation, commitment, the team work, friendships, work ethic, fitness, etc are something a bit different to most other school sports and also serves as a positive influence on academic work.
If winter sport is also a passion, then a summer of rowing will make the winter sports trials a breeze! Additionally, most Universities and employers know what it takes to be a school rower and to put that on your school life CV makes a good impression.
Learn To Row |
Each year, in Term 3, Onslow College Rowing Club runs a Learn to Row (LTR) Programme. This provides an introduction to rowing for students. Onslow College Rowing Club does not have a formal recruitment process for Learn To Row. While numbers allow, we take any student who wishes to participate. At the end of the programme, a short camp is usually held in Wanganui. Students who wish to continue rowing competitively are selected from Learn To Row candidates. Selection for competitive crews takes account of the whole person, not just athletic ability.
See the Learn To Row page for this season's LTR details. |
The Rowing Season |
Rowing is a summer sport, with the competitive season beginning in October and running through to the end of March. The objective of all school rowers in New Zealand is to compete at the Maadi Cup Regatta (National Secondary Schools Championships). This regatta is held annually at alternate venues: Lake Ruataniwha (Twizel) and Lake Karapiro (Cambridge). The other significant regatta for North Island students is the North Island Secondary School Championships Regatta held annually at Lake Karapiro before the Maadi Cup.
See the Regattas and Camps page for the season calendar. |
Regattas & Camps |
Rowing regattas are held throughout the season. Crews compete in local regattas and also travel to Wanganui, Lake Karapiro and to Lake Ruataniwha to compete. Participation is confirmed prior to each regatta, and depends upon availability of equipment, availability of the rowers, and rowers meeting training standards. Parents are most welcome at regattas which are where all the training effort is put into practice.
There are two main camps every rowing season, the Learn To Row camp (late September) and a week-long Summer camp during the January summer holidays. The camps are usually held at the Wanganui River Top 10 Holiday Park in Wanganui. It is expected that all squads will attend the camps. Camps provide an excellent opportunity to significantly develop rowing skills in a short period of time, in an environment conducive to good training as well as everyone having a lot of fun. See the Regattas and Camps page for the season calendar. |
Life as a Rower |
Rowing is a sport that requires significant time input to training and competition. It is important the rower manages their time well between school, homework, family and training and this can be achieved if the rower is well organised. Students are expected to maintain their academic standards throughout the rowing season.
It is the goal of the Club to provide a positive experience for all squad members while also fielding the most competitive boats possible. The Onslow College Rowing coaching team prepare the various training programmes, assess fitness and determine crew selections for regattas. Training will vary in intensity and volume throughout the season. It is envisaged that novice squads will be training 5 to 6 times per week from October to December. After the January camp, the number of training sessions will increase for all squads as crews build for the championship regattas. Training takes place at serveral locations in order to row on suitable water conditions. This may be on the Wellington Harbour, on the Porirua Harbour, at the Petone forshore and at the Ruamahanga river in the Wairarapa. The Rowers are at the heart of everything that the club does and without their heart and passion we would not be able to run the programme. It is acknowledged that they play a central role in defining the spirit and success of the club. |
Coaches |
OCRC has a quality and supportive coaching team with years of experience and success.
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Uniforms |
Onslow College rowers race in either the Wellington Rowing Club singlet or the Onslow College rowsuit depending on the regatta. Uniforms are ordered through the OCRC.
See the 'Uniform' page for additional details and second hand sales. |
Costs |
Total costs for the season are dependent on the number of regattas attended. If all regattas and camps are attended as hoped, then the season may cost between $2900 - $3100 (excluding the Maadi Cup regatta). These costs include all club, coaching and uniform fees for the season. They also cover the Learn To Row programme, participation at two major camps, at least three away regattas as well as local regattas and other mini camps.
Rowing costs are paid throughout the duration of the season, not as a bulk upfront payment. Each rower has an 'account' within the main Onslow Rowing Account and where the rower does fund raising that can be attributed directly to him/her, then this is credited to their account to be used to reduce the amount of regatta or camp costs. See the 'Costs' page for a break down of the indicative costs. |
Parents & Supporters
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The OCRC operates an inclusive environment where parents and supporters also play a pivotal and rewarding role. Hence, the rowing programme is inclusive of everyone, (i.e rowers, coxswains, parents, coaches, supporters and community members) who support the club’s activities. Everyone shares in the club's success.
OCRC has a great parent group. Friendships are formed among parents through the club just as much as the students. And being involved along side your son or daughter in the sport creates a special period in their life. Support your rower by:
See the Parents & Supports page for more info. |
Ex Onslow Rowers at the Top |
Onslow College continues to play an important part in the success of New Zealand rowing on the international stage. The following ex Onslow College students have contributed over recent years:
Tobias Wehr-Candler (Onslow College Rowing 2005-2007) Tobias has been a member of the NZ elite squad. He has been a World Under 23 Champion and has represented NZ at the elite level at a number of World Champions. Tobias held the world record for the one-hour ergometer. Tobias was also a Sir Edmund Hillary Scholar with Waikato University. Tufi Sele (Onslow College Rowing 2005-2007 and coach 2015- 2018) Tufi represented NZ at the 2010 World Under 23 Championships and was the reserve for the NZ elite team at the World Championships in the same year. He has been a member of the Central Regional Performance Centre and coached our Onslow College Girls squad from 2015-2018 to a number of North Island and National medals with some of the girls going on to represent rowing crews at a National level and some attaining scholarships to study and row at US Universities. Joe Wright (Onslow College Rowing 2007-2009) Joe first represented NZ as a member of the NZ Junior Eight at the World Junior Rowing Champs. In 2013 Joe was a member of the NZ Under 23 Eight which won Gold at the World Under 23 Championships. Joe was selected for the NZ Mens 8x 2016 Rio Olympics. Jamie Hunter (Onslow College Rowing 2007-2010) Jamie is a member of the NZ Lightweight Four which took second place at the 2013 elite World Rowing Championships. Jamie was a member of the NZ elite Summer Squad and was selected for the NZ Mens Light Weight 4- 2016 Rio Olympics. Lauren McAndrew (Onslow College Rowing 2007-2010) Lauren has been a coxswain for the RPC and has represented NZ at the University level. Hayden Robertson (Onslow College Rowing 2009-2014) Hayden had his final year at Onslow College in 2015 and achieved several Maadi medals over his time in rowing. In 2015 he was selected for the NZ Junior Rowing Team to compete at Rio where he achieved a world ranking of 8th with his Doubles partner. Olivia Clark (Onslow College Rowing 2014-2018) Olivia rowed for Onslow for 4 years and achieved several North Island and Maadi medals over her time in rowing. In 2017 she was selected for the NZ U18 North v South Championship Regatta and selected for Junior trials and RPC in 2018. Olivia has gained a 4 year scholarship to study and row at Yale University in the USA from 2019. Ella Greenslade (Onslow College Rowing (2014-2018) Ella coxed for the Onslow girls crew for 4 years and in her senior year was a very sought after cox for school, club and RPC winning numerous medals from her time in rowing. In 2019 she won a Red Coat for coxing a Premier crew to National gold has been selected to cox the NZ U21 team. Ella has gained a 4 year scholarship to study and cox at Washington State University in the USA from 2019. Ella has also attained a NZ Rowing Red coat which means she has raced in a NZ premier event winning gold. She achieved this coxing the premier central RPC 8+. 2022 - Ella was selected as coxswain into the NZ U23 team. Constance Stirling (Onslow College Rowing (2014-2018) Constance rowed for Onslow for 4 years and achieved several North Island and Maadi medals over her time in rowing. In 2018 she was selected into RPC and has gained a 4 year scholarship to study and row at University of Miami in the USA. Jamie Hindle-Daniels (Onslow College Rowing 2012-2016) 2023 - Jamie was selected into the New Zealand Rowing summer squad. |
USA Rowing Scholarships
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USA University Scholarships gained by Onslow College students to study and row in the USA:
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