The Blue Lake Regatta history…

The Dewar’s Shield was donated to Rotorua Rowing Club by ‘John Dewar and Sons (Dewar's whisky ,1846) in 1904. The Shield is engraved; to be awarded to the ‘Maiden Amateur Oarsmen of New Zealand’ . The Shield was the award for the winners of the ‘Maiden Fours Oarsmen’ at the annual ‘Rotorua Carnival  Regatta’ . The beautiful silver Dewar’s Shield , organized by Dewar’s agents in New Zealand; Nathan and Co. and valued at 100 guineas; was one of the most sort after trophies in New Zealand. 

Many rowing clubs were keen to win the Shield; Auckland , Ngraruawnhia, Wanganui , Hamilton,St. George's, Wellington, West End, Waitemata, North Shore ;

“The North Shore Club have a strong maiden crew to do battle for them at Rotorua for the handsome Dewar’s Shield.”

(Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 38, 13 February 1904, Page 4) 

By 1906 the prizes were as follows ;

“The Rotorua  Carnival Committee are holding a rowing regatta at Rotorua on the 7th March. The events and the first prizes will be as follows: Maiden fours, under 10 stone; £10 10/, Maiden fours, heavy weights; £10 10/,Junior fours, under 10 stone; £12 12/,Junior fours, heavy weights; £12 12/,Senior fours; £14 14/. The Dewar Shield, valued at 100 guineas, will also be competed for, and it is likely that crews from the South will compete”

(Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 30, 3 February 1906, Page 12) 

By 1908 Rotorua was host to a festival month;

“A ‘Carnival in Wonderland’ will be opened at Rotorua on February 19th, 1908, and is to continue until March 18th. The arrangements for providing attractions appear to be remarkably extensive, and the programme includes New Zealand Champion Native events, fancy dress parades, a masked ball, flower processions, rowing regatta (with the race for the Dewar Shield),  Maori aquatic sports, bowling, tennis and golf tournaments, fireworks displays, side-shows and realistic reproductions of native legends, battles, etc. Besides these, a "Highland Night," and an "Irish Night"" are advertised as special features. Every-day trips throughout the Wonderland by coach and boat will be provided, and excursion fares have been arranged for on the railways”

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 293, 9 December 1907, Page 3.  

The early winners of the Shield did not include Rotorua;

1905        Waitemata 1906        Waitemata, 1907        North Shore 1908        West End. 1909        Waitemata, 1910        Ngaruawahia 1911       Waitemata

1913        North Shore 1914        West End 1915        St. George's 1916       North Shore 1917        Waitemata. 1918        North Shore 1919        Hamilton.

1920        St George's. 1921        St. George's 1922.       Waitemata 1923        Hamilton 1924.       Hamilton 1925        Waitemata 1926        Waitemata

 Nowadays, a 108 years later, the ‘Blue Lake Regatta’, held on the 19th and 20th of January 2013 (annually on Wellington anniversary weekend), continues to attract rowing clubs from all over the North Island. School crews include Rotorua Boys High School, Western Heights High School, Rotorua Lakes High School, John Paul College and Rotorua Girls High School,  Tauranga Girls College, Tauranga Boys College, King’s College (Auckland),  Auckland Grammar School and Hamilton Girls High School.

Also attracting club  crews  from Rotorua, Whakatane, Otemotai, Gisborne ,Te Awamutu, Hawke’s Bay, Waitamata,  Mercer, Counties Manakau, Union (Wanganui) and Aromoho Wanganui  Clubs, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington. St George’s Club (Penrose) , Waitemata and West End (Ponsonby) still come to ‘Rotorua’s Carnival  Regatta’ after all these years.

Hundreds of spectators come to enjoy the Blue Lake Regatta, where they can get unusually close to an event of 1500m which finishes right in front of them. The Rotorua Rowing Club is always keen for sponsorship and races are named after sponsor companies. All in good fun -some individuals have been known to name a race after themselves or their children. This regatta continues to be the main fundraiser for the Rotorua Rowing Club and there are always lots of goodies available; muffins, Chocolate cake, Filled rolls, sandwiches, tea, coffee and barbequed sausages. Get the family to Rotorua this Wellington.

Email Ann or Alastair if you need details of sponsorship or any info on this wonderful  free historical event.