To round out the 2022 awards dinner evening, below is a list of our esteemed GONG winners of the year (just in case you forgot, others reminded and some of us just wanted to know!):

Novie of the year - Melanie for consistently showing up and consequently being rewarded with a massive improvement

Handi Swan - Nat for organising the paint job

Gaffe of the year -  Grant hitting the stump and bending 5 seat rigger, and then hitting a giant red buoy in the same practice. So much for night vision!

Most impressive Crab - Lisa – a ballerina like crab in the 8 where she gracefully bent all the way backward as the oar went over her head and then recovered it back over her head in time for the next stroke.  Impressive!

Bravery - Mike T for his fireman impersonation

Most Helpful - double award to Jayne for dedication to our H&S, coxing and social secretary and Karen - for sorting us out,

Most Improved - Simone – otherwise known as Simo, never says no – she’ll row on any side, scull, stroke, you name it!  Rows lots of days a week.  And it’s paid off

Swimmer - Gordy for chatting while his single floated away from the dock – necessitating a swim to retrieve it; this will be accompanied by a special award of a T-shirt from AlySharon for hitting a buoy, flipping, climbing back in and finishing the race at Blue Lakes. Although Martin was impressed with winning the mens double with Sharon at Blue Lakes.

Best excuse of the year - Annabelle - I won't be long in the UK!  - 7 months later.  She has been reinstated as chairperson of the TS Committee.

Best crew of the year - Kristin for single handedly blitzing it at Blue Lakes, Legion and feeding us at both regattas.  She’s so amazing, she seems like more than one person!

Best all rounder - Sharon  for doing everything – so much rowing, great performances (Blue Lakes, Legion, LD Waikato) painting, coxing, fixing stuff, being the first person to arrive for practice most of the time, etc.

SPECIAL THANKS also extended to:

Emma G for being photographer extraordinaire and creative wizard behind our new fandangled website. Absolute legend.

To our "behind the scenes" helpers of Aly, Sharon, Bronwyn and Jayne - we could not have this event without your team efforts with a special mention to Aly for her time, relentless enthusiasm, organisation of engraving of cups and drive to hunt down nobel prize winners and taglines. 

Martin - for his poetic eloquence and self realisation that really he cannot win the men's double without his partner Sharon. As a tribute we share this poem with you:-

3 boats flying off the start

Single sculls racing not far apart

3 fast ladies compteting on Blue Lake

40 stroke super minute for goodness sake!

2 boats racing ....where did one go???

Binoculars searching but she doesn't show

Huge red buoy floating on the water

She would never hit that, well she shouldn't owtta....

UP came Sharon floating by the buoy

And climbed back into beetroot her little sculling toy

Making lots of excuses she climbs aboard

But she knew deep inside she'd be up for this award!!!