Rowing Foundation Legacy Awards

A function held at Gary Reid’s residence and rowing complex on the banks of the Wairoa River in Tauranga. The occasion was a presentation by New Zealand Rowing Foundation Legacy Awards to 4 recipients - the late Tom Reid (Margaret received the award on Tom’s behalf ), Gary Reid, David Molesworth and Max Larsen.

These awards are presented to oarsmen and oarswomen who have represented New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games (prior to 1964), Olympic Games, FISA World Championships and their predecessors the FISA European and North American Championships.

There are about 450 rowers in these categories, and all are given a number starting from single sculler Darcy Hadfield who is Number 1, and going on crew by crew, starting with the bowman in each crew.

David is number 85 and Tom number 86 as David was in the bow of their pair oar crew. Present at the occasion was family and friends of the Reid and Molesworth whanau and a large number of West End Masters rowers were there both at a training camp and to support Max Larsen.

Although Max started his rowing career in Whakatane he moved to Auckland and the West End Rowing Club where he gained his redcoats and N.Z representation honours.

Former NZ Rowing Chairman Tony Popplewell represented the Rowing Foundation and compared the evening. He read the citations for each recipient and explained the background to the Legacy Programme, and the progress made in making these presentations at various venues around the country.

Tony and current NZ Rowing President Bill Falconer made the presentations. Bill and his late wife Olive have a close association with the Whakatane Rowing Club on which Bill served as Patron for many years, through their long time friendship with Tom and Margaret Reid. Bill has been a generous donor to the Club, donating 3 singles over the years, and rowed as a master for Whakatane for a number of years.