South Island Masters Nelson Lakes 2026

This year the event took place at Lake Rotoiti in Nelson Lakes National Park and saw 310

competitors from 26 clubs lining up for honours.

With ANZAC day falling on Saturday, the weekend began with a short ceremony of remembrance and a rowing guard of honour. This was followed by the Craigs Investment Partners 5km race from the head of the lake back to the 1km course along Kerr Bay. Big boat honours went to AVON in the Mens 8, AWARUA in Mixed and the AUCKLAND RC Woman’s G 8. The PICTON Men’s B Quad took overall line honours in an impressive 19m44s and even after Age Handicapping held on to win the 4s event.

Saturday afternoon saw Mixed Racing in fabulous sunshine. On Sunday, The Mens’ and Womans’ regatta was a fairly full schedule beginning at 0800. Increasing wind mid-

afternoon called for a pause and a course reset...turning the buoyed laneway around by

almost 90 degrees - a feature that Karapiro and Twizel don’t offer – allowed the vast

majority of the race program to be completed by the 5pm curfew.

The SI Masters regatta is often characterised by a healthy blend of Social activity to

complement the rowing and this year the regatta did not fall short. On Saturday night

the community hall saw over 225 gathered for a Barbecue and Sunday evening 350 sat

down for Dinner and the Formal Awards ceremony.

Bev O’Loughlin, who was part of the successful G Womans 8 and coordinated the Auckland squad said:

We had a great time and fully embraced the pristine rowing environment of Nelson Lakes. Lots of new buddies made on, and off, the dance floor and are already planning for Invercargill next year.

Kirsty Mahoney from Union added,

it was a great regatta and our members really enjoyed the location, camaraderie and all that goes with a masters’ regatta. Huge thanks ot Nelson RC for hosting this event.

Richard Martin , Regatta Chair said:

It was an honour for Nelson to host the regatta at Lake Rotoiti, in this year – the 150th anniversary of our club.

Thanks to everyone who participated and in particular to DOC for making the lake available for the event and our 6o plus listed volunteers 2/3 of whom never rowed a single stroke all weekend. Masters is such an important part of the NZ Rowing scene with so many of the rowers also playing wider roles in support of grass roots rowing, and it was great to see competition and camaraderie out in force.

Questions: Tim Rogers 021 0903 2360