NERC
SINCE 1892
The NERC Story ..
1892
The North End Rowing Club is one of the oldest rowing clubs in New Zealand.
Founded in 1892 on the Otago harbour in Dunedin, New Zealand's first capital city, the club has grown from small beginnings to become one of the strongest clubs in the South Island
1892
Mark Higgins founded the Club in 1892. He and seven others, J.Gloag, W.Treseder, W.McInnis, J.Dixon, D.Murchison, J Donald and C.Lambeth, held a meeting ( in what was Mills Hotel, later known as the Oriental.) in September 1892 and one month later the Club was established. Mark was the first Club Captain and a Dentist named S.S.Myers, was elected President.
1893
On boxing day 1893 at Port Chalmers, the Club won its first race - the maiden fours. A year later the first Clubhouse was completed and the Club began to grow.
After less than four years had passed, the Club showed signs of leadership when in 1896, S.S.Myers donated an eight to the Club. This may well have been the first eight in New Zealand - The Star Boating Club in Wellington received one around the same time.
1901
By 1901 there were two eights on the harbour and in February of that year the first eight oared Tournament in New Zealand was held.
A month later the Otago Association led the way by staging the first Interprovincial race in New Zealand was held at Lake Waihola.
1912
1912 was special as it was the first year that North End won the Otago Premiership shield. This Shield first came into being in 1903 and is awarded to the Otago Club with the most wins in a season.
The Clubs colours had gone through three changes but around 1910 the red & black quarters became the uniform, which has lasted to this day. Shortly thereafter forty-three members exchanged the red & black quarters for Olive drab uniforms and heeded the call to arms for the war in Europe.
1927
By 1927 the Clubhouse had to be shifted from its original site to a new location at the North end of the boat harbour.
The following year the Club suffered its first major disaster when the newly established shed was blown down in a gale resulting in almost total destruction of plant and Building.
With the help of sister Clubs, rowing was continued from the Ravensbourne Boating Club in borrowed boats, until a new, slightly larger, shed was built on the same site.
1930's
In 1935, at Monty Butterfield's instigation, the Clubs name changed from Boating Club to Rowing Club to reflect the club's activities.
1938 was the first year the Club staged its own rowing specific regatta, the first club in New Zealand to do so. Starting in a small way it became one of the major regattas in the South Island. This two day event became known as the "icebreaker" and ran over a slightly shorter 950m course.
1960's
The 60's proved to be a very successful period for the club with 5 members gaining NZ selection. This success followed the Club opening its doors to school rowing, supporting over 10 schools by in 1952.
1980's
A 2nd major disaster occurred in 1988 when 11 boats were damaged, many beyond repair, in a trailer accident. Thanks to sister Clubs again, the effects of this disaster, like the one in 1928, were lessened by their generosity in loaning equipment till replacements could be purchased.