Hawke’s Bay Rowing Club celebrates 150 years of success, gold medallists

Hawke's Bay Rowing Club is celebrating 150 years. Inset is club members and Olympic champions Tom Mackintosh and Emma Twigg. Photo / NZME

A Hawke’s Bay sports club that has produced five Olympic gold medallists is celebrating its 150th anniversary this weekend.

Hawke’s Bay Rowing Club, based in Clive, has organised multiple events for the milestone.

Olympic gold medallists Emma Twigg and Keith Trask will be in attendance.

The events include a sold-out function on Saturday night at Lindisfarne Chapel in Hastings, preceded by the club’s annual prize-giving and a gathering of old and current members for a row along the river.

An online auction is also being staged.

Hawke’s Bay artists, including the likes of Josh Lancaster, have painted oars for the auction.

One of the painted oars for the auction. Photo / Supplied

Club patron Twigg will also take a successful bidder out rowing on Sunday morning.

The auctions close at 9.30pm Saturday, and the club hopes to buy a new quad boat with the proceeds.

Hawke’s Bay Rowing Club president Carina Lack said 150 years was a big milestone.

“It is hugely special, and a privilege to be a part of.”

She has been involved in the club for 25 years and said there was a great culture.

“The community feel, all the volunteers, all of the athletes that are a part of it, once you are in you kind of can’t get out.”

The club currently has about 120 competitive members, mainly school-aged rowers and masters rowers (over-27s).

The club has a proud history of producing top Olympians, including five gold medallists - Twigg, Tom Mackintosh, twins Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell, and Trask.

“At the Paris Olympics, both Emma and Tom were the single scullers for New Zealand, which was pretty incredible.”

To bid on the online auction go to galabid.com/hbrc/items.