2000 CHAMPIONSHIPS
The School Rowing Championships will be held at Lake Ruataniwhia with racing starting on the afternoon of Monday 27th March, Repacharges on 29th, Semifinals on 30th and finals on Friday 31st March and Saturday 1st April.
If you are planning to send a team then you should have by now made accommodation bookings. We know accommodation is now very tight

Some points to note

• Entries without registration numbers will not be accepted. If you have unregistered rowers then you will need to obtain a registration number from the NZRA. If the rower(s) in question have not raced in a Club regatta then you need to state this to NZRA. This was advised in the previous news letter.
• Entries that are not accompanied with the declaration stating the rowers are pupils of the school and with the date of birth of each rower will likewise not be accepted. This document MUST be signed by the Principal of the school.
• The entry forms state three races is the maximum number of entries, this is the recommendation however if you have a rower that you feel is able to row more then you can do so.

...BOAT TRAILERS
While most North Island crews have probably made bookings for trailers to go South if you have not then try TOP CAT fast ferry as this we understand has very competitive rates as compared with Tranzrail.

SPONSORSHIP
I would like to repeat that it is with much pleasure I advise that Mighty River Power have undertaken to take over from ECNZ and will be the principal sponsor of the 2000 regatta which will be formally known as the

2001 CHAMPIONSHIPS
I repeat from the last newsletter that the 2001 regatta will be held at Karapiro on Tuesday 27th March through to Saturday 31st March. Like the two previous regattas at Karapiro the volume of entries and a 6 lane course will probably mean racing in heats will start on the Monday afternoon.  

2000 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is given that the annual general meeting of the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Association will be held at Lake Ruataniwhia in the MacRae Lounge on Thursday 30th March at 7:00 pm.
The agenda for the meeting can be found here

SOME POINTS TO PONDER
We believe many of the School Associations no longer function and those that do face a diminishing amount of support.

• As a school do you attend meetings of your local School Rowing Association??
• In possibly the majority of cases, schools regattas are organised by the local NZRA Associations with or with out assistance from the schools. Why?
• With the NZRA looking at reducing the number of their Associations how can this impact our organisation?. What should we do about this?
• Is it time we reviewed the way our executive is structured? Currently it consists of the President and Secretary / Treasurer and a delegate supposedly appointed by each local Schools Association. If the majority of schools Associations are defunct then how should the Executive be structured??
• Would it be better to have an executive of say 5 plus the President and Secretary/Treasurer, with the five being elected from the proposed new NZRA regions (Super Five Boundaries?) These members could represent the schools in their areas at any relevant meetings setting say regatta dates.
• Is there a continuing need to have an AGM every year? Could we have an AGM every three years with election of all officers at that time and a review of our race program and constitution taking place at the same time.?

Your comments and input will be asked for at the AGM.  

LIGHTWEIGHT ROWING
Those who attended the meeting in 1999 raised a number of matters. The continuation of Lightweight events in the regatta program was one issue.

The principal area of concern is that pupils who are not natural lightweight are being entered in these events. The weight limits are:

• Males Maximum weight 72.5kg - average for crew 70kg.
• Females Maximum 59kg average for crew 57kg.

Although the event is an Under 19 event it is noted that many of the rowers fall into the U17 and U16 age groups. If U17 and 16 rowers cannot meet the U19 weight limit then the continuation of the event must be questioned. The concern is that pupils are being encouraged to develop unhealthy eating habits in an effort to loose weight to enter these events. It is well known and documented that such practices and pressures can lead to eating disorders that can develop into grave medical problems.

We cannot eliminate these events until a majority of members vote to do so. The last vote on the matter was lost by one vote.
As the events are on the program we strongly recommend that the school has in place proper checks to ensure only natural light weights are entered into the event and that the school acts to stop pupils who are not natural lights entering. The legal responsibility for consequences for not adopting such a policy rests with the school.

COLOURS
The annual season for changing colours seems to be underway. These should all be sorted out by the time entries close.

• If your school is contemplating such a change we remind you it is necessary to send a coloured drawing to the Secretary before the singlets are made so we can check them before hand. They should only be ordered after approval is given by this office.
• We suggest that you examine the colours we have on the web page before submitting new colours to see there is no clash.
• Please be aware that some colours from a short distance look the same Eg Navy Blue/Black/Dark Green

• Schools rowing in colours that have NOT been approved by the association can, under the Constitution/Rules and Regulations, be disqualified or be protested against at the regatta.

MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT
The annual account for membership was sent out late last year most schools paid before Xmas. If you have still not paid your subscription then this must be attended to.
You MUST be financial to row at North Island, South Island and National School Championships.

The Secretary