New Finish Tower for Lake Karapiro

Karapiro Rowing Inc, the group that organises all regattas at Lake Karapiro, has commissioned a new Finish Tower for the 2010 World Rowing Championships.

The Don Rowlands Tower, built for the 1978 World Rowing Championships, was demolished the day after the official opening of Waipa District Council’s new Don Rowlands Community Centre.

“The old finish tower was ageing and in need of both repair and upgrading so we had to decide whether repair or rebuilding was the best option,” says Tony Popplewell, Chairman of KRI. “The 2010 World Rowing Championships gives us a unique opportunity to leverage funding for a new facility. We might not get this chance again.”

The new tower will cost approximately $650,000. KRI has funds of $150,000 available plus funding trust pledges of a further $250,000. The remaining funds are being raised from other funding trusts and the rowing community.

“We are delighted that a new finish tower will be built for the World Championships,” said 2010 World Rowing Championships CEO Tom Mayo. “It will be tremendous for the event and is another significant addition to the capital legacy for rowing in New Zealand.”

Hamilton-based Hawkins Construction started work last week and the new tower is scheduled for completion on 30 September. The first race of the 2010 World Rowing Championships takes place on 31 October.

“The schedule is tight but we’re confident it will be ready in time,” says Popplewell. “We are using the same company that built the new Don Rowlands Centre and they finished ahead of time and under budget.”