Rotorua Rowing Club

Sunday, April 17, 2011

PHOTO; Riordan Morrell with the coveted prize for male rower of the year

PHOTO; Claudia Hyde, Dominic Sainsbury

PHOTO; left to right Riordan Morrell, Nigel Van Den Akker, Dominic Sainsbury

Reaching for the stars…

Rotorua Rowing Club recognized the season’s highlights by rewarding rowers, scullers, coxswains and coaches recently at their annual prize giving. The trophy for ‘Achievement in Rowing’ was won co-jointly by Riordan Morrell (WHHS) and Nigel Van Den Akker (JPC). They achieved separately and in crews together, this season. Van den Akker rowed as part of a coxed four crew and came 6^th in the world, at the 2011 Junior World U19 Rowing Championships and Morrell’s highlight was winning the U18 secondary school single sculls.

One of two ‘paddles’ was awarded to Riordan Morrell as ‘Top Male Rower’ and the second ‘paddle’ went to Claudia Hyde (JPC). Hyde has maintained a top level school level rowing career and was given ‘ Top Female Rower’ for the second time. Delaney Phillips was awarded ‘ Top Cox’ for the second time, for her expert steerage this season. ‘ Top Coach’ went to Chris Pearson, a deserved win for his notable input into two high-achieving U15 girls quads from WHHS and JPC.

Guest speaker Dominic Sainsbury, the Director of Golf for Rotorua Boys High School and Waiariki Institute of Technology. Sainsbury, currently one of New Zealand Golf ’s high performance development coaches, talked about success coming from the struggle of enduring work and sacrifice, and quoted Teddy Roosevelt “…credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena… who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings “ and condensed the path of a successful athletic career into three important points; “ Have a dream and share it with someone you trust” he advised. “ Work hard and sacrifice- you have a choice.” Sainsbury said elite athletes usually log 10,000 hours before reaching the pinnacle. Mahe Drysdale rows 21 hours or more a week . “And-Knowledge. To get to the top you have to understand why you do what you are doing. Ask yourself; ‘What am I trying to achieve?’ and ‘Where am I trying to go?’ Change takes time . Learn that ‘ownership’ ( of your goal) belongs to you. You have to be the person who drives that path”.

Trophies Awarded for 2010/2011

‘Most Promising Cox’ -Morgan Mc Hale

’Top Cox’ -Delaney Phillips

’Most Improved Female Sculler’ -Olivia Ashby

’Most improved Male Sculler’ -Mathew Cooper

‘Most Improved Female Rower’ -Greer Murray

’Most Improved Male Rower’ -Turei Crew

’Best Performance Master Rower’ -Rob Prebble

Kerr Family Trophy- ‘Most Improved Rower’ -Olivia Ashby

Alex Davie Trophy -’Best All Round Club Member’ -Kelsey Crew

’Achievement in Rowing’ -Riordan Morrell and Nigel Van den Akker

’Champion Novice Crew’- Boys U15 WHHS Quad; Jamie Wilson (stroke), Deon Molijn,Fritz Conlon, Dylan Boddis, Maggie McIver (cox)