“I don’t deserve anything, I have to earn my seat everyday.”

MAGSROW

 

Our Mount Albert Grammar School rowing squad - MAGSROW - is focused on developing rowers who can succeed at school level and beyond. We believe a successful rowing programme is one that supports the overall growth and development of our rowers, and helps them to achieve on and off the water.

The MAGSROW squad includes girls and boys crews, spans novice to senior rowers, and offers a Learn to Row programme for students looking to take up the sport. Over the past few seasons, our MAGSROW crews have achieved success in local, regional and national rowing regattas including winning multiple golds at the Head of Harbour, North Island Secondary School Championships and the national rowing championships, Maadi Cup. MAGSROW made history at the 2022 Maadi Cup with their top girls and boys crews making the A Final of the premier championship events.

Our rowing legacy as a school dates back to the 1930s and in 1947 Mount Albert Grammar School (MAGS) won the first Maadi Cup, before going on to win eight major national titles in subsequent years. Since rowing was reinstated at the school in 2010, MAGSROW has developed a very strong co-ed programme and MAGS is reclaiming its place as one of New Zealand’s top rowing schools.

MASGROW rowers are supported to realise their potential by an incredibly dedicated team of coaches (a mix of full-time, part-time and volunteer) and a supportive crew of squad parents.

VISION

 

To reclaim our legacy as the most successful school in New Zealand rowing history.

MISSION

 

To consistently develop rowers who can succeed as individuals and as part of a team - at school level and beyond.

OUR VALUES

 

  • Hard work

  • Perseverance

  • Responsibility

  • Respect

  • Honesty

ROWING PROGRAMME

 

MAGSROW runs a highly structured programme of in-season and off-season training throughout the year, with the frequency of training sessions and regattas peaking during the official rowing season from September to March.

There are several ways a student can become part of the MAGSROW squad, including joining the MAGS Rowing Academy in Year 9 & 10, taking part in the Learn to Row programme run in August each year, or - dependent on squad size - there may be an option to trial at the start of the rowing season.

Rowing is a high intensity sport. It is also a real team sport, with rowers and coxswains working together and supporting each other to achieve a common goal. While it is important to us that our students enjoy their experience, we also expect them to work hard, be committed and demonstrate good sportsmanship to others. The demands of rowing provide healthy challenges for young people and we see an important role for parents - especially parents of novice rowers - in helping our squad members to develop the self-reliance and resilience that will set them up for success in this intense sporting environment.

Our experienced coaching team guides the training and development of the MAGSROW squad but we rely on our community of rowing parents to provide lakeside and behind-the-scenes support (transport, kitchen duties, fundraising) to ensure our camps, regattas and rowing programme run smoothly throughout the season.