4 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Hamilton Rowing Club: Iline Construction T T Karen Phelps New training hub a huge milestone The new Regatta cafe and restaurant offers sweeping views over the Waikato River. • GASFITTERS • PLUMBERS • DRAINLAYERS Since 1923 Phone 07 848 2122 or 0800 245 368 Email: info@chp.nz | www.chpelectrical.nz The team at CHP Electrical are proud to support Hamilton Rowing Club Your reliable and trusted Main Contractor, proud to support Hamilton Rowing Club. We deliver exceptional quality projects across the Commercial, Industrial, Residential and Fitout sectors. iline.co.nz The completion of a major refurbishment at Hamilton Rowing Club marks a new chapter for one of the region’s oldest sporting institutions, opening the doors to enhanced facilities for athletes and a more welcoming space for the wider community. Established in 1903, the club has long been a cornerstone of rowing in the Waikato, supporting schools across the region, fostering both recreational and competitive athletes. “Completing this project is a huge milestone for us,” says Byron Arnold, club president. “It’s something the club has been working towards for around 20 years, and to finally see it realised is incredibly rewarding.” The refurbishment has reimagined both levels of the building. Previously, the downstairs area served as boat storage alongside a small fitness room roughly the size of a large bedroom — far from adequate for a club of more than 120 members. Upstairs the space functioned as a conference and events centre. Now, it has been redeveloped into a dual-purpose hub that better balances sporting and community needs. The new Regatta cafe and restaurant offers sweeping views over the Waikato River and the remaining space has been converted into a large purpose-built training facility. Spanning around 90 square metres, it is equipped for modern strength and conditioning programmes, including Olympic lifting platforms, rowing machines and space for squad-based sessions. It is expected to significantly improve the club’s ability to support its athletes, particularly during winter training. “Regatta will add a cool vibe to the area and hopefully get people here to see what we do on the water,” says Byron. “The new off-water training venue means we can do a lot more work with coaches to improve fitness and technique. At the moment, working with schools across the Hamilton region makes it hard to get enough time for all the rowers.” The improvements also include earthquake strengthening, a full exterior repaint, roof upgrades and landscaping work. In addition to its immediate benefits for members, Byron says the redevelopment is set to strengthen the club’s role within the community. By opening its doors through hospitality offerings, it aims to give more people insight into the sport and encourage participation. “It will enable more people to see what goes on in the rowing club on a regular basis,” he says. “It also means we can give more young athletes the opportunity to excel and pursue rowing here in Hamilton.” He says New Zealand’s global reputation in rowing adds further significance to the investment. “New Zealand is one of the elite rowing countries in the world and our members need to be able to train at a high level to compete locally. It’s very common for young Kiwis to gain scholarships overseas because the calibre of rowing here is so high.” The project has been supported by key partners, including iLine Construction, which handled project management and construction, and BCD Group, responsible for engineering and design. “iLine Construction, a long time sponsor of the club, has been a great partner to work with and have really helped get everything done on time,” says Byron. He also acknowledges the role of former president and club stalwart Blair Currie, describing him as instrumental in getting the project off the ground. “Certainly, without his input it would not be happening. The club is looking ahead with renewed ambition, better equipped than ever to nurture talent and connect with the community.”
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