Otago University's Matehaere takes top prize at Otago awards

Otago Daily Times

14-05-2025

Hannah Matehaere. Photo: Sharron Bennett Photography
Hannah Matehaere has added another accolade to an already impressive year.
The Otago University rower was named rower of the year at the Otago rowing awards on Tuesday.
Matehaere has been in some form this season, where she won a coveted red coat in the premier quad at the New Zealand championships and also picked up silver in the premier eight and bronze in the premier pair.
She won gold in the coxless four at the North Island championships and won gold in the single, double, coxed quadruple scull, coxed four and the eight at the New Zealand university championships.
Matehaere capped off the year with her first international nod, selected in the women's eight to compete at the Windermere Cup and the double for the world university regatta.
After another big season, Dunstan scooped several awards.
Henry Clatworthy and Mathew O'Meara were named crew of the year after a successful season on the water together, picking up several medals.
They were selected for the world university rowing championships in Duisburg, Germany, in July.
Olivia Ollerenshaw was named club rower of the year. Ollerenshaw, who is heading overseas on a rowing scholarship, is part of the New Zealand women's under-22 quad.
Bella Breen was named female school rower of the year and at just 15, she won gold in the under-17 doubles, and coxed quad sculls, and in the under-15 double sculls at Maadi Cup.
Quentin Annan has dedicated his life to rowing in Dunstan and was named masters rower of the year, after a strong year where he collected medals at Aoraki, Otago, Canterbury, South Island club and South Island masters championships.
Simon Smith picked up the coach of the year award for guiding his crews, including having 14 athletes selected for national trials.
Otago Boys' rowers Ollie Scott and Hunter Ruxton were also rewarded for their fine seasons.
Scott was named male school rower of the year, having won gold and silver medals at every regatta this season, including the under-16 quad at Maadi Cup. Scott was selected for the South Island under-18 team, despite racing at an under-16 age.
Ruxton was named coxswain of the year for his efforts in guiding the under-16 quad to gold at Maadi Cup, and was described as the heart and soul of the crew.
Young Ethan Shirley and Asthon Macnee were recognised for their potential with novice crew of the year.
The North End crew won gold in the novice double at the New Zealand championships after only picking up the oars three months previously.
Max Gold was recognised as official of the year and Stephen Craig-Pearson was named administrator of the year.
Gold has been reliable in his nearly 10 years as an umpire, attending most Dunedin and Lake Ruataniwha regattas, and stepped up as chief umpire at several Dunedin regattas this season.
Craig-Pearson has been on the Otago Rowing executive committee for the past three years, serving as treasurer and passing his knowledge on to others in the sport.
He has become more active with the club in Oamaru, where he now lives, and is on the pathway to becoming an umpire.