Age is no boundary for Rotorua's Keith Fraser, who at 86-years-old has no plans to retire from the sport he loves.
The determined golden oldie turned to rowing 12 years ago and will be the oldest competitor at the annual Blue Lake Rowing Regatta in Rotorua this weekend.
The event, hosted by Rotorua and Whakatane Rowing Clubs, has attracted more than 600 rowers from 21 clubs around the North Island competing in both school-aged and masters events today and tomorrow. And Fraser, competing for the third year in a row, will participate in the masters single skulls and double and eight boat fields.
The rowing veteran said he was feeling strong ahead of the weekend's racing, training up to four times a week - with 7am early morning starts on the water in preparation.
"I'm in reasonable shape and I love doing it so it's always fun to take part in a competition like this," Fraser said. "This event is more about showcasing the youth of the sport but I'm happy to be there again.
"It is early morning starts for me but it keeps me going and my wife [Wendell] fully supports me.
"I'm not sure exactly how I'll get on because all of the events are very weather dependent but I'll try my best and I think I have the best chance in the eight boat."
Rotorua Rowing Club chairman Rob Prebble said Fraser was an "inspiration" to his club.
"It's just fantastic, he [Fraser] just keeps on going and going. It's really inspirational to everyone at the club and he's a rowing legend around here.
"Also Keith came into the sport pretty late on which goes to show this is a sport for everyone no matter what age."
Rotorua's Keith Fraser, 86, (left) poses with the prestigious Dewar Shield and Rotorua Rowing Club chairman Rob Prebble. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER
Rowers will also be challenging for the impressive Dewar Shield, the team award which is one of New Zealand's oldest trophies. It was first competed for in 1904 on Lake Rotorua for the maiden four boat which is now called the novice four event.
Whakatane Rowing Club have won the prestigious accolade for the last three years with the shield in recent decades regarded in even higher esteem after going missing for a period during the 1960s.
Fraser took up rowing again in 2005 after finding out about the Rotorua Rowing Club on the community grapevine. Fraser had spent a year rowing while at university in Auckland 50 years ago before turning to squash and golf.
"I was looking for a new sport and one day heard someone talking about rowing and just thought why not try it again?" Fraser said.
"I'd enjoyed it briefly at university but there was so much to learn when I was in the boat again - I was very rusty. For a start I had never been in a single skull. Everything was a great challenge though and it's such a wonderful discipline."
Fraser said he had no plans to put away his rowing oars: "I'm going to keep going as long as the local club will have me."
The Blue Lake Rowing Regatta is the start of the masters rowing season which finishes with the National masters in September.
