Rangi Ruru rowing is a competitive and successful programme, consistently placing in major events and having won the number one rowing school in New Zealand over 2021, 2022 and 2023, and the top girls’ school in New Zealand in 2024. Rowing is available to all students from Years 9 – 13 and we cater to a squad of 60 girls.*
The rowing season runs from the beginning of Term 4 to the end of Term 1. The students train seven sessions per week for U15, with up to 8 sessions per week for seniors. These sessions vary between rowing, erging, running and strength and conditioning. Students new to rowing must complete our ‘learn to row’ programme at the end of Term 3, which consists of erg sessions before they can move on to the water at the annual October camp.
Rangi Ruru Rowing spend time away in Twizel for training camps and sessions. When not in Twizel, training takes place at Kerrs reach, with erg sessions and strength and conditioning sessions based at school.
Rangi Ruru attends a range of regattas throughout the season. This includes four major regatta’s at Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel before competing at the Maadi Regatta. The Maadi Regatta is the largest secondary school sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere and the location is alternated each year between Lake Ruataniwha, Twizel and Lake Karapiro, Cambridge. All students must qualify at the South Island Secondary School Championships to make the Maadi Regatta team.
In 2021 Rangi Ruru made history at the Maadi Regatta – New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Championships, being the first school to clean sweep across all 5 eights, which is a first since the Novice 8+ was introduced into the programme in 2014. Rangi Ruru took out 8 golds, 2 silvers, 1 bronze, the top sweep school in New Zealand, the award of Top Secondary School in New Zealand, and the Levin 75th Jubilee Cup (U18 8+).
In 2023 the rowing squad took out top overall school and top sweep school, both for the third year in a row. In the Levin Jubilee Cup (U18 coxed eight), the Rangi Ruru number one boat took out the title, with the number two boat coming in for the silver medal, something that has never been done before.
In 2024 Rangi Ruru came 2nd in the Star Trophy (overall top school), took out the Executive Trophy for champion sweep oar school, and were the top girls’ school.
* Students in Year 9 can try rowing as a sport in Term 4.
Rowing at Rangi Ruru is more than competing on the water, it is about the skills and friendships the girls make during their time with us. Our goal is to offer a highly competitive rowing programme for students, that is fun, empowering and challenging but to also equip the students with life lessons they will need when they finish at Rangi Ruru.
Coaching
The Rangi Rowing coaching team prides itself on an excellent programme and coaching philosophy, that supports students to extend themselves and grow as a person and an athlete, and take accountability for performance and actions, whilst having the time of their lives.
Our rowing programme is made up of experienced coaches, led by Adam Ling. Our coaching ratio is 1:10, with a full time Rowing Manager, Olivia Ling, taking care of the squad.