The 2013 Old Collegians Rowing Regatta was held on a high tide on an afternoon that started overcast with a threat of rain and finished in glorious late afternoon sunshine. Around 30 past rowers attended including John Ferguson, who had three from the 1987 crew (himself, Ben King and Martin Winter) to form an Eight of mixed ages who narrowly lost to the College Premier Boys Eight despite their 10 second head start.

Ben Forrest (1994) showed his skills in a single skull, retained from his NZ representative history. Ian Ross (1957) and John Gilbert (1965) and Nick Shaw (1982) were all in attendance and recalled their times on the water, also Nick Cashmore (1988). Josh Fleming (2012) and Angus Bews (2012) formed a crew and had clearly lost none of their skill.  

The afternoon was followed by a buffet dinner in a marquee on the lawn where there was some reflection back on the pre-pontoon ‘muddy feet’ days with one snippet of history brought forward – in the very early days when equipment was a bit thin on the ground, old dog collars were used to as foot straps!

The event will return to late March again next year and hopefully we can persuade more to stay on for the dinner!

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