Christmas 2025 newsletter
- hamish8572
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
The rowing season is well and truly underway. It has been fantastic seeing the Cambridge blue colours of Clifton RC back on the water racing.
Read on to see what has been happening, and what is coming up………
Registrations are STILL OPEN: Rowing Connect
Remember, as a rower, coxswain, parent, supporter, coach, volunteer you are required to register to Rowing NZ via the Rowing Connect link.
If you are staying at Hautapu rugby club as a parent / supporter you will need to register with Rowing Connect if you haven't already
Karapiro Christmas regatta
As a new rower, parent/supporter this will be your first introduction to rowing at Lake Karapiro (The home of Rowing NZ). The Christmas regatta is BIG. Your first taste of racing on Karapiro will be both an exciting and a daunting prospect.
Read on for useful information….....
Live streaming feed:
Keeping track of the race program, results and regatta delays:
Hint: you can use the ‘filter/alter display’ function just to select Clifton club, to see when all the Clifton crews are racing
Lake Karapiro event centre address: 601 Maungatautari Rd, Lake Karapiro
Parent and supporter parking via Gate 3. Parking per day is ~$7 payment via eftpos as you drive in
Karapiro Site map
Rowers and supporters accommodation (Cambridge)
Hautapu Rugby Club located at 8 Laurent Rd, Cambridge
To maximise available space only single air beds / mattresses permitted please
Karapiro how to start procedure:
Your coaches will guide and instruct you but we definitely recommend you read the attached to familiarise yourself with the starting pontoon procedure. The marshalls can be very strict.
Karapiro on water circulation map
Recent regatta reviews:
John's Trophy (22nd November)
Our very own regatta on the Waitara river was a great success helped by a beautiful day.
This was an opportunity for all of our Novie rowers to get their first taste of racing, particularly with limited water rowing after the tough early Spring weather.
The club welcomed crews from Aramoho-Whanganui Rowing club, Union Boating club and Whanganui Collegiate School.
Jury Cup (29th November)
Held on the beautiful Whanganui river, this regatta was a step up in distance and competition for our rowers. On a stunning blue sky day the regatta was another fantastic test for our crews. With just over 400 competitors, the racing was on from race one.
Congratulations to Aramoho-Whanganui RC for taking out the overall points honours on the day.
Farmsource
A big thanks to Russell Smith from Farmsource for their very kind donation of Anchor Calci Yum flavoured milks for our rowers for their recovery at our regattas this season.
Community support like this is so much appreciated by the team helping our rowers to achieve success
Celebrating our success
The evening before the John’s Trophy regatta Clifton RC was represented at the Sport Taranaki annual sports awards. Clifton was shortlisted for Club of the Year, Coach of the year, Volunteer of the year, and Junior Sportsteam of the year.
Congratulations to our hardworking Club president Gus Berghan who came away with Volunteer of the year. A most well deserved winner.
At Clifton Rowing Club, we are incredibly fortunate to have a volunteer coach who goes above and beyond in shaping the future of our athletes both on and off the water. Gus Berghan has been an integral part of the club for 23 years, and his commitment to the sport and the club has only deepened over time.
The evening was capped off with Oli Kohlhase and Noah Prendergast taking away the Junior Sports team of the year award.
Last season these boys raced to Gold for Francis Douglas Memorial College in the Boys U16 2x event. This was the College's first ever Maadi medal and they made it a golden one. By no means an easy feat, when they were up against 31 other crews across the country.
The boys also joined forces with their school mates Jack Fuller, Hamish Perry and Mason Seator to just miss out on the bronze medal by the closest of margins in the Boys U17 4x+
Noah's speech on accepting the award from the evening........
Fundraising efforts
Thank you everyone for the fantastic work with fundraising initiatives and the kind donation of goods and services.
The car wash and bingo night were both a resounding success enjoyed by the rowers.
A huge thank you to Legal Solutions for providing the team your carpark, facilities, (and water) for our carwash day.
From the archives: Clifton RC history
Sophia Hodson: If you've spotted the red Lazlo single scull boat in the shed or out on the water you will see WINNER emblazoned on the boat. Rightly named after Sophia, who won the Girls 2021 U17 Maadi cup single sculls race.
Each year, the winners of the Boys and Girls U17 1x event win a boat for their School. Sophia, representing SHGC, came into this regatta with good form and results through the season. Steadily through the heats, and semi’s Sophia stamped her authority drawing one of the central lanes for the final. But we have seen at many a final, anything can happen, favourite or not.
The race started fast, and through the first 1000 metres Sophia held steady sitting 4th, approximately one or two boat lengths from the leader. With the last 1000 metres to go, Sophia dropped the hammer and ripped the field apart winning by a comfortable margin, to the elation of her mum (Joan) and supporters in the stand. It was an amazing buzz for everyone who was there to watch a masterful display of patience, determination and power.
The club gives their appreciation and thanks to SHGC for donating this boat to Clifton Rowing, with priority given to Sacred Heart Girls rowers to use at regattas.
Relive the race here (fast forward to 2 hour 27 minute mark)
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