Rowing: Shy coach deserves accolades

Doc McDonald with his New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council Service to Sport Award. Photo / Paul Taylor

Doc McDonald has politely excused himself from media interviews as he has shunned the limelight over the years.

The Hawke's Bay Rowing Club coach has preferred his rowers get the kudos and media exposure. And there have certainly been many, the world ranked trio of Giacomo Thomas, Andrew Potter and Tom Jenkins to name a few.

But McDonald couldn't avoid being the centre of attention when he received a New Zealand Secondary Schools Sports Council Service to Sport award at his Clive-based club yesterday. This recognised 37 years of service to three different provinces, Canterbury, Wanganui and Hawke's Bay where he has been since 2006.

McDonald had rowed for the Canterbury and Wanganui-based Union clubs before he switched into coaching mode. Being part of the national title-winning eight crew with Union in 1959 was the highlight of his competitive days.

A retired dental surgeon (yes that's where he got the name Doc from and it has stuck ever since), McDonald, has won the Maadi Cup eights title twice with Wanganui Collegiate and once with Christ's College Christchurch. The Maadi Cup is the most prestigious secondary schools regatta in the country and McDonald coached a Napier Boys' High School eight to second place in 2013 and he has also tasted Springbok Shield four oar glory with NBHS.

"I've really enjoyed my coaching and the Maadi Cup regatta is the one I always look forward to each summer. I've won double scull and quad titles there five times as a coach," McDonald said.

He was quick to reply, when asked, what he considered his biggest successes in the Bay.

"Havelock North High School's Thomas in the single and Napier Boys' High School's Potter and Jenkins as a pair."

All three have podiumed at international level and have won the Hawke's Bay Secondary School Sportsperson of the Year award. Thomas won bronze with the Kiwi quad in 2009 at the under-19 world championships in France while Jenkins and Potter won golds in the pair and four, and silver in the eight at the 2013 Youth Olympics in Sydney, and Jenkins won gold with the Kiwi coxless four at the Bulgaria-hosted junior world championships in 2012.

The 2013 Napier Boys' High School eight and Thomas were the rowers he enjoyed working with the most.

"Thomas and that eight ... they all had big hearts," McDonald said.

His recipes for success are simple.

"I can see movement and speed and I also have a good rapport with the athlete," he said.

McDonald is in the middle of off-season coaching programmes with crews from the Hawke's Bay club as well as Lindisfarne College, Havelock North High School, St John's College and Napier Boys' High School. He reckoned he will be coaching for another two or three summers at least.

"I've got a bit of unfinished business, particularly with that Napier Boys' High School eight at the Maadi Cup."

While none of his four children rowed, McDonald said it was possible one or two of his eight grand children could take up the sport in the future. Should that happen expect to see McDonald in some sort of coaching role with them ... but more in the background and never chasing the limelight.