The Petone Rowing Club (PRC) is a non-profit organisation, located on the Petone foreshore, in the harbour of Wellington, New Zealand. Formed in the year 1900, the Club has a long standing history of developing champion rowers, with a proud history filled with local, regional, national, international, and Olympic achievements. The club is governed by a member elected committee. The committee controls all aspects of the club.

The most notable club champions, who have represented New Zealand at international rowing regatta's such as the Commonwealth Games, the Rowing World Championships, and Olympics include Des Lock, Ian Boserio, Jack McCarten, Pat Abbott, Tim Logan, Viv Haar, and Matthew Cummings.

International Achievements

Petone club members have consistently been selected as New Zealand representatives since 1950. Jack McCarten was the first person to be selected, he represented New Zealand at the 1950 Empire Games. Numerous more have been selected since then.

In the 1970s the PRC enjoyed the greatest successes, in 1974 Des Lock represented New Zealand at the World Championships, Bill Vine represented New Zealand as the New Zealand Colts Manager, and a young Viv Harr represented New Zealand as a New Zealand Colt. In 1975 the World Champion the selection of a Petone person was repeated by Ian Boserio. Many Petone rowers hold world records for time trails at indoor racing events that are held all over the world.

Uniform

When the club was first formed the uniform was very different from the one we see today. it consisted of white trousers, a white cap with red buttons, a white singlet with a broad red sash, and a boater hat with a red band. By the 1960s the uniform had changed to gold singlets and black shorts.

Currently the petone uniform is fluorescent yellow singlets and black shorts. These colours are recognisable at any regatta

Regatta

A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...

. Hence Petone Rowing Club is world famous in the rowing community of New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

.

Roll of Honour

World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 and World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

both had huge affects on most societies around the world. Petone Rowing Club was not exclueded from this. Twenty one men fought in world war one from Petone rowing club. Four of these men paid the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives. Sixty two men fought in World War Two and seven of them paid for freedom with their lives.