We would like to recognise the 15 years’ contribution of Richard May to Wellington Rowing
Club over a period of more than 60 years by making Richard a Life Member Wellington
Rowing Club.

Interestingly, Richard attended Onslow College in 1958, 2 years after it was opened.  In 1962 in Richard’s last year at College, the legendary Jack Collins went to the school on a recruitment drive to start the inaugural Onslow College Rowing Programme and Richard joined that very first rowing programme at the school. Richard tells the story that they were very short of coxswains and so Richard convinced his father to be their coxswain on numerous occasions - apparently Dad was a bit large for the seat. Onslow trained - as they do today - from WRC ..however the club house was in the old location, next door to the St John’s bar. They learnt and trained in boats they called “tubs”: clinker built pulling type boats without sliding seats, but it meant they could get out in almost any weather.

Richard tells of one of his first races on the Korokoro course. He raced a double with Jack Collins who apparently shouted at the young Richard all the way down the course. After school, Richard went on to row at Victoria University for a year, with Hoppy Lynch as the coach and with a chap named Reeve Pring as his Novice pairs partner. Richard transferred to Canterbury University where he flatted with future double Olympian
Dick Joyce. All 4 of the flatmates were rowers and they rowed as a flat four on many occasions. At Canterbury Uni he was in the crew that won the Champs 4’s at the Uni Champs in Wanganui. He also raced with Dick at Governor’s Bay at University champs in a four four and won.

His working life took him to New Plymouth and he rowed briefly at Clifton. In 2015 he moved back to NZ after many years living overseas, in Hong Kong for the majority of the time - he hadn’t been in a boat for 35 years - On his return to NZ, he caught up with Dick who convinced him to come back to WRC and help coach with Joe O’Neill and Chris Jones and he assisted with the Men’s Novice squad who won bronze medals in both
Novice quad and Novice 4+.

Richard joined the Masters’ squad and raced Legions of Masters on Hamilton lake 2016. 1st race in 35 years…where racing with Chris Jones they created an upset by hopping from lane 8 to lane 1 during the race. He went to Masters Champs that year and the recent story started there.

Richard quickly volunteered for the Committee and took on the role of Fundraising Manager. In that role he has raised tens of thousands of dollars from charities and trusts to enable purchases of coach boats and motors, a couple of new boats and oars as well as safety equipment.

Richard also established the WRC Alumni Group which has contributed hugely to the culture of the club and engages many older and past members and keeps them involved with the club and our beloved sport. The Alumni Group provided the funds to purchase our club tent/marquee.

He established the WRC Scholarship Fund which has provided many scholarships worth thousands of dollars, to athletes for a range of needs. He negotiated the deal with the Wharewaka, where 10% of everything we spend in their cafe, comes back to the Club Scholarship Fund.

Richard has recently volunteered to be the Treasurer of the WRA and has been actively involved with the new Integrated Clubs Building at Korokoro.

Away from the serious business, he contributes his time and energy to coordinating the Masters squad, as well as providing the cheese board at the Masters monthly rowing camp. He loves a single malt whisky and occasionally has been seen to nod off in the corner with a grin on his face after a tough weekend on the water. Richard continues to train a minimum of 5 times a week and is a fierce competitor at masters regattas at the tender age of 78 and has a very respectable erg time for one so slight of build and age.

Life Membership is not awarded lightly. It is reserved for above and beyond contribution to the success and sustainability of our fantastic club. We believe that Richard May is a very worthy member of our club whose contribution fits with this ethos for Life Membership.