Rowing breeds success, say Tauranga parents

Rowing has wide-ranging benefits  off the water, according to parents of rowers at Tauranga Boys’ College.

On Thursday afternoon, as the rowers moved through their semi-finals, the crowd of supportive parents at the school’s tent grew.
Two of them spoke to the Independent about their sons’ involvement in rowing.

Jack Gilpin’s father, Kevin, was pleasantly surprised when his son wanted to start rowing.

“Rowing is a fantastic sport for these kids.  It just turns them into fantastic people.”

When Jack decided to take up rowing, he did not know about his family’s sporting history– his father coxed an U16 four to bronze in 1978, and his grandfather rowed and coached for Tauranga in the late forties and the fifties.

Kevin Gilpin said every young person should try rowing, and has seen big changes since his son began.
Gone is sleeping in on Saturday, and getting straight on the computer after school.

“Now he gets himself out of bed at quarter-past five in the morning, he’s now driving himself off there, getting his food organised, getting his lunch organised.”

Despite the demands of rowing, Jack continued to achieve academically.

Gilpin said coach Grant Bridgwater, and Jack’s crews, created a good environment, which was positive and respectful, yet still ambitious.

“They want to win it all.”

Sheldon Noyce’s mother, Leslie Wilson, said he loved rowing so much that there was no doubt he would continue to be involved in the future.

In his five years of rowing, he fitted two training sessions each day around his school work. “I take my hat off to him.”

A figure skater in her youth, Wilson understood the demands on athletes, and said that rowers were rumoured to be among the fittest.
Because the two-kilometre course was endurance length but rowed almost at a sprint pace, other athletes, like rugby players, would struggle to compete with endurance of rowers.

In such a demanding sport, Wilson said parents needed to be committed too. “You’ve got to be in there boots and all… If your kid’s in it, you’re in it.”

Teacher in charge of rowing, Richard van Dijk, said rowing required dedication, which the boys also applied to academic pursuits.
“That’s what rowing does, is it helps boys with everything. It’s not just out there [on the water], but it also helps them organise their lives a lot better.”

RESULTS

This Maadi, Jack Gilpin has already given his father another success to enjoy, making A finals in the U18 eights and the U18 lightweight double with Jade Washer.

Sheldon Noyce upheld his tradition of gold medals each year.
This year, he took one in the U18 coxed quad with Daniel Bridgwater, Charlie Rogerson, Jordan Parry, and cox Bradley Craven.