West End Rowing Club

West End Rowing Club From juniors to masters, from novices to internationals. Our clubhouse is designed as a community based facility and cost nearly $1.7m. The Rt Hon.

Founded in 1884, West End Rowing Club is based in Auckland, New Zealand with three facilities for traditional and coastal rowing including Avondale, Coxs Bay, and Mercer. After 115 years based in St Marys Bay, we re-established our headquarters at Saunders Reserve, on the Whau River in Auckland, New Zealand. This site is adjacent to sheltered water, and provides for future expansion on which we ca

n continue to build a successful, interactive community project. Apart from the normal rowing amenities, the building includes a gym, social hall and a corporate meeting room. It also hosts an impressively large wooden deck and bridge to the floating pontoon from which rowing skiffs are launched. Helen Clark officially opened the new clubhouse in October 2001. The West End Rowing Club has a proud history of achievement producing top class competitors and administrators. We have won more than 70 National Premier Championship titles and numerous honours at Commonwealth, World Championship and Olympic Games. Four of our members have won Olympic gold medals.

The 2026/27 season is officially OPEN!Today we held our Patron's Opening Day with Mike Hartley ready to do his official ...
05/09/2026

The 2026/27 season is officially OPEN!
Today we held our Patron's Opening Day with Mike Hartley ready to do his official duties, including the presentation of the Thomas Peacock Memorial Shield for the winning 8+ race.

As part of our formalities, we also welcomed Kelsey Campbell, Olympic silver medallist from Tokyo to present Holly Chaafe with her Red Coat for the win in the Premier 4x at Nationals this year. Kelsey has been a massive contributor to women's high performance rowing in the Auckland region, and has previously coached Holly so this was a wonderful moment to share.

It was fantastic to have so many of our Life Members, 50+ year members and past officers in attendance, showcasing the longevity of our sport. As well at 1984 Olympic Champion Shane O'Brien.

Congratulations to the crew in the Tony Hurt, just edging out the Max Weston who did well rowing as a 7 after an oar breakage - but always keep rowing until you hear the ho**er...

Thank you to everyone who made today a great opening to the season.

Quick facts:
⚫️ Patron Mike Hartley is a life member of WERC, KRI and RNZ and was instrumental in getting the 2010 World Championships to Lake Karapiro.
⚪️ Thomas Peacock was WERC's longest serving Patron (30 years) and the shield presented today was donated in 1926 to commemorate him.
⚫️ Holly's Red Coat is the first for a female coming through from the MAGS programme, and the first since the programme was re-established c.2009.
⚪️ Red Coats are awarded for winning a Premier National Title. There are additionally Gold Coats (Premier Lightweight title holders), Green Coats (coach of Premier title crews), and Navy Coats (service to RNZ).
⚫️ Kelsey Campbell (nee Bevan) won her first Red Coat in the Premier 2- with WERCer Juliette Drysdale (nee Haigh) in 2012. Kelsey won 🥈 at The Tokyo Olympics, was World Champion in 2019 (both in the W8+) and, until the World Champs finals held last weekend, was the holder of the world best time in the W4-.

We are really sad to share that West Ender Steve (Max) Ashby died last Sunday suddenly and unexpectedly. He was only 65 ...
04/09/2026

We are really sad to share that West Ender Steve (Max) Ashby died last Sunday suddenly and unexpectedly. He was only 65 and leaves behind his wife Rose and daughter Amelia.
 
His real name is Steve, but most rowers know him as Max, thanks mainly to Shane O’Brien.

Max and his brother Ted Ashby joined the club as novices in 1978 and rowed for ten years representing the club at intermediate, senior, and premier levels. They won the Senior 8+ in 1983/84.

This is a photo of the West End Prem 8+ with Max in 3-seat. They got second to Waikato at Nationals on Lake Ruataniwha in 1986.
 
A celebration of Max’s life will be held at the club on Friday 11 Sept at 2pm.

🤍Patron’s Opening Day, this Sat 5 Sept! 🖤After a bit of a hiatus, we’re bringing back Patron’s Opening Day! Traditionall...
01/09/2026

🤍Patron’s Opening Day, this Sat 5 Sept! 🖤

After a bit of a hiatus, we’re bringing back Patron’s Opening Day! Traditionally, each rowing season would be opened by West End’s Patron (currently Mike Hartley), celebrating being back on the water together, catching up with fellow WERCers over some food, and getting some social racing in.

As part of this we’ll run “Trial 8s”. Don’t let the name put you off, these are not a trial! We put mixed crews out in 8+s and race 500m with the finish line being the pontoon markers.

We also have the excitement of having a Red Coat to present to Holly Chaafe after her win in the Premier 4x at Nationals.

Schedule for Patron’s Opening Day,
11:00am Arrival for those keen to race in trial 8+s
11:30am Official opening by Patron Mike Hartley, and names of the Whau
12:00pm Trial 8+s racing
12:30pm Winners presentation and lunch

2026 marks 25 years of WERC on the Whau River! To mark this occasion we’re giving our members the opportunity to name some landmarks on the waterway. We’ve received name ideas from members, now keep an eye out on our Instagram stories this week for your chance to vote! The winning names will be announced at Patron’s Opening Day this Sat!

We’d love to see our current members, life members and friends of WERC at the event. Please RSVP on the link in our bio (includes sign up for Trial 8+s racing) so that we can plan for catering and logistics.

Any Red, Gold & Green Coat winners are strongly encouraged to wear theirs to honour Holly’s achievement.

⛽️⛽️Here’s how to turn filling up with petrol into a little boost for West End Rowing Club! 🤍🖤📅 From Tue 18 Aug - Mon 14...
13/08/2026

⛽️⛽️Here’s how to turn filling up with petrol into a little boost for West End Rowing Club! 🤍🖤

📅 From Tue 18 Aug - Mon 14 Sep
⛽️ Fill up at Z New Lynn (or charge your EV)
🟠 Claim your voting token in store
🗳️ Drop it in the box for West End Rowing Club

The more votes we get, the bigger our share of the Good in the Hood community fund. So if Z New Lynn is on your way (or out of your way), make it your WERC fuel stop! 🚗💨

Every fill counts.⛽️Every vote counts. ☑️

What an epic experience for Erin James, Holly Chaafe and the NZ Coastal team in the USA! 🇺🇸 They checked out the LA 2028...
05/08/2026

What an epic experience for Erin James, Holly Chaafe and the NZ Coastal team in the USA! 🇺🇸 They checked out the LA 2028 Olympics venue before racing at the Boston Beach Sprints Regatta, where they claimed🥈and🥉in the mixed 2x. An unforgettable trip, congratulations to the whole team! 👏

Huge congratulations to Nicholas Bryan and the NZ Men’s 8+ on an incredible🥉at the U23 World Rowing Championships! What ...
05/08/2026

Huge congratulations to Nicholas Bryan and the NZ Men’s 8+ on an incredible🥉at the U23 World Rowing Championships! What a race to watch, finishing in 5:34.09. We’re so proud of you all! 🇳🇿

📸 Rowing NZ

Ever wanted to give rowing a go?Our Give it a Row course for adults starts on Sun 26 July and is the perfect intro to on...
16/07/2026

Ever wanted to give rowing a go?

Our Give it a Row course for adults starts on Sun 26 July and is the perfect intro to one of the best sports around.

Whether you’ve always wanted to try rowing, rowed years ago and are keen to get back on the water, or you’re a parent wanting to see what your school rower is so passionate about, we’d love to have you join us.

🗓 5 Sunday sessions
📅 26 July - 23 Aug
⏰ 8am-10am
💲 $250

You’ll learn the basics in a fun, supportive environment and experience everything that makes rowing such a rewarding sport.

Share with someone who should give it a row!
Sign up on the link in our bio.

🇳🇿 DOUBLE THE NEWS! 🇳🇿Congratulations to West Ender Harry Fitzpatrick on his selection in not one, but two New Zealand c...
29/06/2026

🇳🇿 DOUBLE THE NEWS! 🇳🇿

Congratulations to West Ender Harry Fitzpatrick on his selection in not one, but two New Zealand crews for the World Rowing Champs in August! Harry will be racing in both the NZ Men’s Four and Eight! 🔥🔥

A proud West Ender and St Peter’s College old boy, Harry continues to represent our club with distinction. We’re incredibly proud to see him wearing the silver fern once again and can’t wait to cheer on Harry and his crews as they take on the world! 🇳🇿

Congratulations Harry Fitzpatrick !!

📸: Conrad Blind Rowing Picture Show

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