23 May 2013

Club structure in rowing to be reviewed

7:39 am on 23 May 2013

In the wake of rowing success at the 2012 London Olympics, rowing clubs around New Zealand are experiencing unprecedented numbers, however it's not all good news.

The challenge is keeping them involved, with over half of rowers quitting after their first year.

62-percent of rowers don't make it past their first year and Rowing New Zealand is starting a project to find out what is needed to revitalise domestic rowing.

Head of the project, Emily Liddel, says the structure has not changed in ten years and now with over 80-percent of licensed rowers under the age of 18, it needs to review how it can better support novice rowers.

Emily Liddel says there are 4,449 rowers registered with Rowing New Zealand.