One hundred and fifty years have passed beneath the blades, and like ripples spreading across the still Nelson Haven waters, the Nelson Rowing Club’s influence has reached far beyond its boats.
Rowers past and present have been united by the beat of the oars since 83 people got the club afloat in 1876.
Within a year it propelled its reputation with an interprovincial regatta, attracting crews from around the country.
The boats were wooden, the singlets were woollen, and the second Anglican Bishop of Nelson, Andrew Burn Suter, was the first president.
Years later, the position is held by Tim Babbage, a 45-year veteran of the club who, along with the 130 current members, will be celebrating the club’s sesquicentennial this Labour Weekend with the same pride shown by the 2007 crew that won the Centennial Oar (the New Zealand Rowing Championships).
“No sports club gets 150 years without a whole lot of passionate people who have kept everything going for the reward of seeing people on the water,” he enthuses.
“I'm not sure the [club members] from 150 years ago remember, but it's a pretty impressive history.
“We've been the top club in New Zealand, both overall and as a sculling club, we’ve had athletes who have rowed at the Olympics, athletes who have rowed at world champs and won world titles, and the high schools who row out of the club have all had good success over the years at Maadi [the national secondary school regatta].”
Nelson Rowing Club’s pantheon includes Brook Robertson who appeared in the New Zealand men’s eight at the Rio Olympics in 2016 and in the coxless pairs in Tokyo 2020, and Brenda Lawson, who was bestowed the Supreme Halberg Award in 1994.
Val Dyce and Jack Collin are recognised in the club's 150-year synopsis for their efforts when the club was at risk of sinking on two separate occasions.
Nelson Pine Industries and its GoldenEdge brand have been the club's principal sponsor since 1989, and more recently, the club has been among those helping launch coastal rowing and beach sprint racing in New Zealand.
Celebrations for the 150th anniversary include a function at The Boathouse, once home to the club, and a season-opening day at its familiar blue shed on Cross Quay at Nelson Marina.
Tim says that the club's location could change again in the future as Nelson Marina undergoes upgrades.
A century and a half after its founding, Nelson Rowing Club remains one of the city's enduring institutions, still turning effort into achievement with every stroke.
