Rowers from throughout the North Island will battle for the coveted Dewar Shield during the Blue Lake Regatta this weekend.
The annual two-day rowing event, hosted by Rotorua and Whakatane Rowing Clubs, has attracted more than 500 rowers from 18 clubs to compete in secondary school, senior and masters divisions.
The impressive shield, first competed for in 1904 on Lake Rotorua for the maiden four boat which is now called the novice four event, is awarded to the team which earns the most points throughout the weekend.
Whakatane are the team to beat, having held the shield for the last four years, and Hawke's Bay won it the two years before that. Rotorua have not won the shield in more than 10 years.
Rotorua Rowing Club president Rob Prebble said the form of rowing clubs was cyclical as young rowers often left for tertiary study or work in other regions.
"Rowers are often around for two or three years, then they drop off and a new team comes through, you go through a rebuilding phase. [Rotorua Rowing Club] is probably in that phase at the moment, some of our novice riders now are moving into the senior levels and starting to perform.
Rewards do not get much bigger than the Dewar Shield, which rowing crews will compete for at this weekend's Blue Lake Regatta. Photo / Ben Fraser
"Whether they'll be up to the mark this weekend is hard to say, but it is very much a valuable experience for them. The unique thing about Rotorua is the school rowers all row for the club, so they get coaching in whatever crew they fall into. In the school championships you'll see them cheering for opposing schools because they are their fellow rowers, they're good friends, it's a really neat environment," he said.
The event was timed to coincide with Wellington Anniversary Weekend, to allow more teams to compete.
"It's quite a popular event and it's seen as a good early-season warm up, especially for juniors who go on to the North Island Championships and the Maadi Cup.
"It's usually very competitive and there are a lot of rivalries, but there's also great comraderie in rowing. There are teams from all over the North Island as well as from Nelson."
Prebble said the Blue Lake Regatta was a "relaxed event".
"It has a festive sort of atmosphere, people get quite tense when they get into official competitions whereas this has always been quite laid back. There's still fierce competition, it's competitive, but friendly.
"The venue is wonderful too, Blue Lake is a lovely setting and people love coming here. Obviously the weather can cause some problems and be disruptive, but that's part of the sport."
Racing starts at 8am on Saturday and Sunday.
2018 Blue Lake Rowing Regatta
When: Saturday - Qualifying and seeding Sunday - Finals Rowing starts at 8am both days
