Historic pictures

Club opening day in 1902. The shed, at the confluence of the Taylor and Opawa rivers, was built in 1884 and was doubled in size about 1890, when the skids were also replaced after being swept away in the "annual" flood.  Further smaller additions were completed before the whole building was moved further back up the bank to avoid the regular floods. The building was replaced in 1926 (inset) and remained the club base until it was sold in 1970 to the Blenheim Repertory Society and the rowing club moved to the banks of the Wairau River. 

The Blenheim Rowing Sports in 1910, taken at the club shed on the Opawa River in the centre of town. The right-hand gable represents the first shed. They are (left to right):
Standing - E Ewart, Peter Branton, W McIsaac, H Pridddle, W Spittal, J H Priddle, G Martella, unknown, H Lucas, J Alderton, P C Munro, G Willis, unknown, E Wanden.
Sitting: W Loveday, L Draper, unknown, M Scollard, J Aitken, C A Eckford, A M Shugar, A Jackson, J Paul and child, C E Costello, J Branton, Bill Horton, M Maher.  

The club pair of stroke Norm Jordon and Tom Mitchell, with coxswain von Rotter, in 1895. Their rowing prowess is not recorded in the club's history, but Norm was club captain (president) in 1907 and 1908 and Tom served as captain in 1911.