Local rowing Olympians Emma Twigg and Tom Mackintosh received Hasting Civic Honours Awards at the Rowing Club’s Going for Gold Gala Dinner and Auction last weekend.
“This is the highest honour we have,” said Mayor Sandra HalzeHurst as she pinned the badges on the front of each one’s blazer before a packed dinner-crowd at Toi Toi.
The event, which raised a $100,000 for the Hawke’s Bay’s Rowing‘s Community Group Fund, was also a celebration of the Club’s Olympic Success – five medals since 1984, with Karamu High School Old Boy, Keith Trask, who won the first gold in the 4 in Los Angeles, also at the dinner, along with other rowing greats like Eric Murray.
“No other rowing club in NZ can celebrate the success we’ve had,” President Jock Mackintosh, wearing a tartan kilt, told diners. “We are enormously proud of that.”
During the dinner, Emma and Tom were interviewed by Eric Murray about their build up and campaign success at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Emma was frank as she remembered coming off the water from training one night in tears, realising she had scar tissue from coming 4th in the two previous Olympic Games, and that that was one of the big mental challenges she had to work through prior to Tokyo. She “reached out and got support” and went on to win Gold in the women’s single sculls – thrilling rowers and NZers alike.
Tom talked of training in a gym in 38 degrees heat and 90% humidity preparing for the Japanese conditions. Of the Men’s Eight Gold success he said: “We committed to our plan and I had complete and utter faith in my crew.” Laughing he added “Although I was in what we call ‘the bow Lounge’ (at the front of the boat,) I didn’t, as trained, look out to where other boats were.“
Tom remembers lots of advice in his career to date, but one bit sticks out. “I was told to not think you need this to define you, but more you want this. Then I realised I really wanted to win and I was calm.”
Emma, who started Rowing at Clive in 2000/2001, spoke of similar advice from a fellow competitor who said, “A lot of Olympians can be dickheads. This is about who you are, and the friendships you make along the way. It doesn’t define you. It’s about your legacy more than just the shiny stuff.
“You do what you love to do … and the rest will work out.”
The gala dinner featured a silent auction with prizes ranging from dates with Tom and Emma at Karapiro High-Performance Centre, to a golfing session at Cape Kidnappers with Eric Murray, as well as food and wine and local baches up for grabs.
“Rowing is an expensive sport, just ask any parent,” said Jock Mackintosh, also a Rowing NZ Board member. “It is heavily subsidised through independent fundraising.”
That’s why the Rowing Club set up Hawke’s Bay’s Rowing’s Community Group Fund with the Hawke’s Bay Foundation in 2019, to ensure the long -term sustainability of the Club. Dividends will be used to provide financial support for those that have difficulty funding their involvement, as well as help to fund large purchases such as boats and equipment.
Ticket proceeds and silent and live auctions raised $100,000 for the Fund.
www.haweksbayfoundaiton.org.nz
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