Rowing: West End's clubhouse born from humble beginnings

By JULIE ASH

Pulling old car wrecks, ovens and fridges from Auckland's Whau River was hardly what Bill Tinnock had in mind when planning a new home for the West End Rowing Club.

But now that the $1.6 million complex in Avondale's Saunders Reserve is almost complete, club president Tinnock said the clean-up was all worth it.

"It's a lovely stretch of water. It has a deep channel and is protected from the wind," he said. "The channel runs close to the reserve, which is good for launching boats, and there is easy access to the Waitemata Harbour."

West End moved out of their Westhaven Marina base three years ago when it was required by police to be used as headquarters for the America's Cup.

They have since shared a home with the Waitemata Rowing Club in Te Atatu, but now the official opening of the new clubhouse is set to take place in September - six years after Tinnock and some of his fellow club members stumbled across the reserve when out boating.

The three-storey clubhouse features a gymnasium, function room, showers and a large boat shed.

"In my opinion we will have the best rowing facilities in New Zealand," West End club captain Lloyd Banton said.

"We have good access to the water in any tide. The water is very settled and there is no boat traffic up here."

The complex was funded through the sale of their old Westhaven clubhouse and a number of grants.

"We have spent a lot of money so we hope it will be a rowing centre for many years to come," Tinnock said.

Established in 1884 in St Marys Bay, West End moved to Westhaven in the 1960s before building the new clubhouse which became the police headquarters.

A former Olympic and Empire Games rower, Tinnock has been involved with the West End club for the last 56 years.

The club has a proud history, having produced several national champions and three Olympic gold medallists - Dudley Storey, Tony Hurt and Shane O'Brien.

"We have five members in New Zealand rowing teams who are training to go overseas," Tinnock said.

West End have 80 active members, a slight increase on previous years. They have already set up programmes with Avondale College and Baradene College.

Tinnock said: "I think there seems to be a lot more interest in the sport after the success of [Olympic and world champion] Rob Waddell and other New Zealand rowers."

"Our biggest difficulty will be getting additional boats and sufficient good people to coach."