UC Rowing Club

About

Who we are

UC Rowing is one of Canterbury's longest-standing student sports clubs. We welcome rowers of all abilities — whether you've never touched an oar or competed at nationals, there's a place for you at UCRC.

We train at Kerrs Reach out of the Avon Rowing Club boat shed. The club is entirely student run, with a committee elected each year to keep things moving on and off the water.

Open to all experience levels
Competitive racing
A strong social culture on and off the water
Affordable membership
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The Season

Training

Training runs during Term 1 at Kerrs Reach (Avon Rowing Club). Sessions are relaxed — come to as many or as few as you like.

Mon 5:30 pm
Wed 5:30 pm
Sat 8:30 am

Transport vans from campus are available for each session.

Regattas

Our main event is the NZ University Rowing Championships held over Easter. The club organises accommodation, vans, and boats.

We also compete at the Otago Exchange in Dunedin and the UC Sprint Regatta here in Christchurch later in the year.

Socials

We run a full social calendar throughout the year including Singlet Night, ABC Party, Bow-Ball, BYO, Quiz Night, Court Session, and functions at the Otago Exchange and after Uni Champs.

2026 Membership Fees

Current Rowers
$100
Novices
$60

History

The King of UCRC

Oli Welch

If there is one name that defines what it means to bleed maroon, it is Oliver Welch. Joining the University of Canterbury in 2022 to study Financial Engineering, Oli quickly became the standout athlete in the club's modern era — and one of the most exciting rowers New Zealand has ever produced.

His time at UCRC was marked by immediate dominance. In 2022 he was part of the UC men's eight that won the Hebberley Shield, the most prestigious trophy in New Zealand university rowing, and went on to earn his first Red Coat after sweeping the senior pair, senior four, senior eight, and premier eight at the National Rowing Championships in a single week.

"From the Avon River to the world podium — Oli Welch is what UCRC produces."

But it was on the world stage where Oli truly announced himself. In 2024, still a student at Canterbury, he won gold in the men's pair at the U23 World Championships in Canada — a sign of things to come. The following year, paired with Ben Taylor for the first time, he dominated the 2025 international season from start to finish. They won World Cup gold in Varese — defeating three-time Olympic champions the Sinkovic brothers of Croatia on their very first race together — before claiming silver in Lucerne and then going to Shanghai and winning the 2025 World Championship gold medal in the men's pair, unbeaten across every round of the competition. Oli also took home a World Championship bronze as part of the New Zealand Mixed Eight that same week.

He arrived at the 2026 season as world number one, winning World Cup gold in Seville in the opening regatta of the year and immediately signalling that the maroon pedigree he built at UCRC was just the beginning.