Calvin Ferguson taking the boat for its first go on the river. Photo / Ian Cooper
Calvin Ferguson taking the boat for its first go on the river. Photo / Ian Cooper
A rower who coached New Zealand greats such as Mahe Drysdale and Emma Twigg has had a boat named after him at the Hawke's Bay Rowing Club, where he first started out.
On Sunday, a naming ceremony was held at the Hawke's Bay Rowing Club for Calvin Ferguson.
Club captainBilly Vanderpeet said when the club gets new boats, they are named after those who have been involved with the club.
"It's nice to thank people for their commitment."
Living in Clive, the river was walking distance from Ferguson growing up and as kids they'd always be there playing, swimming or fishing.
Ferguson began coxing at the club in 1982 then became a rower at Napier Boys' High School in 1984.
He also rowed as part of the club crew which he really enjoyed.
Calvin Ferguson christening the new Hawke's Bay Rowing Club boat named after him on Sunday. Photo / Ian Cooper
"The club atmosphere was great in Hawke's Bay and there was a lot of people there supporting, a lot of volunteers... everyone was there because they were passionate about it and I really enjoyed that.
"It's always been a strong club over the years... and [the river] is a great place to train really."
Having enough people to race against within the club, was one of the club's successes, he said.
Ferguson was a rower himself for a while taking part in world championships then became a rowing coach in 2005.
He coached Emma Twigg at the world championships in Brandenburg in 2005 where she won gold.
In 2007 he coached Mahe Drysdale, working with him on technical changes to ensure he would have a "dominant" win that year and coached him for the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he won a heroic bronze despite fighting illness.
He also coached rowers at the London and Rio Olympics and is off to this year's Tokyo Olympics this year with rowers Chris Harris and Jack Lopas.
"I certainly put them in the category of one of the best doubles I've been able to coach."
Ferguson didn't expect a boat to be named after him at the Hawke's Bay Rowing Club and he feels "deeply honoured" to have been chosen.
"I just felt really humbled that the club has thought about me in years gone by and certainly I watch the Hawke's Bay Rowing Club members a lot when they're at Karapiro and regattas."
The boat was christened with champagne and then Ferguson took it for its first row on the river - his first time rowing a boat in two years.
