Waikato Rowing Club - Waikato Rowing Club Maungatautari Road

BACKGROUND

The Waikato Rowing Club began in 1960 in Hamilton on the Banks of the Waikato River. Spurred on by a disagreement with his previous Club, WRC founder Jack Worth saw the opportunity to develop a new Club in the Waikato that would be constructed with an emphasis on excellence in coaching, quality plant and passionate club members, based on the values of integrity and humility. This, along with the hard work of its original members laid the foundation for the WRC to grow into NZ’s most successful RC, having won 104 Heavyweight and 26 Lightweight titles. Since 1986 the WRC has won every Premier sweep oar title, sculling title and lightweight title which reflects the high level of versatility WRC can offer through all rowing disciplines. There are 89 members who have gone on to represent New Zealand in Elite, Senior B, Lightweight and Junior squads, and of these rowers, 52 have represented New Zealand at World Championships and Olympic Game events, with 17 gold medals won.

The WRC is proud of its successful history, and while the national rowing landscape has changed, particularly with the introduction of regional performance centres (RPC), the club still aims to provide an elite level programme alongside the club and senior programmes, and work alongside the RPC to deliver them top athletes.

Individually four of our members head the all time list of New Zealand Championship titleholders, being:
 
Chris White      38 NZ titles
 
Ian Wright        33 NZ titles
 
Greg Johnson   27 NZ titles
 
Rob Waddell     26 NZ titles
 
   
The WRC has also held the prestigious rowing eights title on 21 occasions including 18 consecutive wins. It has also held the coxless four title on 14 occasions and the coxless pair title on 15 occasions. 
 
The contributing factor to the success of our rowers is excellence in coaching and quality plant. Success breeds success, and WRC coaches such as H Mahon, A Cotter, S Le Compte, P Mills, R Tong, B Crow, M Horwell, I Wright, G Robertson and M Cameron have been appointed to NZ crews, who under their guidance have completed with distinction at international regattas.