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Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Clubhouse funding shortfall
Whakatipu Rowing Club's almost-completed two-level clubhouse overlooking Lake Hayes. PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER Whakatipu Rowing Club's $800,000 clubhouse redevelopment project has struck some ripples. The club, in the final throes of replacing its Lake Hayes rowing shed with a two-level facility including upstairs meeting room, kitchen and viewing balcony, needs about $150,000 more to complete the project, despite having had a huge amount of community support already. President Amy Wilson-White explains the shortfall's caused by two factors. The first is extra costs incurred for an accessible carpark and ramp, fire egress at the end of the balcony and unexpected costs to stabilise the foundations. "Those things have added at least $100,000 to the bill," she says. The second factor is a couple of funding blows. They'd confidently asked for $200,000 from Lottery Grants Board, only to receive nothing, and had asked for $75,000 from Community Trust South, but only received $10,000. To make up the shortfall, Wilson-White says any funding would be welcome, such a 'buy a brick' donation in return for permanent recognition on the building. She thinks many businesses might like to book the venue for workshops and corporate team building — there's capacity for 125 people. "I would argue it's the best view in Queenstown, it's brand new and it's something different." She's also appealing for any builder with spare time on their hands who'd like to help out — Lakes Building Co, for example, recently contributed two weeks' voluntary labour in a break between jobs. Wilson-White says completion's due late next month or July — "we're not that far behind schedule". Meanwhile, two Wakatipu High rowers who won each won two golds at the Maadi Cup secondary schools regatta in March have won national selection. Seb Watson's in a New Zealand development team going to the United States in July and Harry Lightfoot's competing for NZ at the under-19 World Cup in Lithuania in August.
Otago Daily Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Otago University's Matehaere takes top prize at Otago awards
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.
