From the River to the Work Site: Our Journey with Christchurch Boys’ High Rowing
From the River to the Work Site:
Our Journey with Christchurch Boys’ High Rowing
When my son William joined the Christchurch Boys’ High School rowing squad back in 2016, I thought I was just signing up for a season of early mornings and wet sidelines. Instead, I found myself drawn into a community that felt very familiar – committed, hard-working people all pulling in the same direction. It didn’t take long before I joined the rowing committee, and Christchurch Electrical became one of the team’s sponsors.
From the outside, sponsorship can look like a logo on a tent or a name on a singlet. For us, it was never just that. It was about backing a group of young men who were learning lessons that would stay with them long after they stepped out of the boat – discipline, teamwork, resilience, and pride in doing a job well.
Why We Got Behind The Boys
Rowing is not a casual sport. It means 4am alarms, cold mornings on the river, and long hours in the gym when most teenagers are still in bed. William describes it takes perfectly: "If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. It's the hard that makes it great." As a parent on the bank, you see the effort that isn’t visible on race day. You see the boys pushing each other, picking each other up after a tough race, and quietly setting higher standards for themselves.
At Christchurch Electrical, that attitude resonated with us. On site, our teams rely on trust, clear communication, and everyone doing their part properly – just like a crew in an eight. When we were asked if we’d consider sponsoring the squad, it felt like a natural extension of what we believe in as a business: supporting local people who are prepared to work hard for each other.
The Road to Maadi Cup Glory at Lake Karapiro
Those seasons with Christchurch Boys’ High Rowing were special. The boys had a great run of success, and 2019 brought unforgettable highs at the Maadi Cup Regatta on Lake Karapiro. William’s U17 eight took gold, while his U16 eight claimed bronze – moments of pure grit and celebration that still bring a smile to my face.
But the highlight for CBHS Rowing that year was the U18 eight winning the Maadi Cup itself for the very first time in the school’s history. Standing on the lake edge, watching them surge across the line, you could feel the weight of that achievement ripple through every parent, coach, and supporter. Years of dawn patrols and relentless training boiled down to those electric minutes.
A special tribute to this triumph hangs proudly on the wall in our Christchurch Electrical main office – a daily reminder of what teamwork and determination can achieve, right here in our community.
When Everything Stopped
The following year was supposed to be another big one for the squad. They were training well, and there was a real sense that they had more to give. Then 2020 arrived, and like so many other things, rowing was abruptly cut short due to COVID. The season ended not with a final race, but with an announcement.
It was a tough pill to swallow. These boys had invested years of effort for opportunities that vanished almost overnight. But what stood out to me was how they handled it – supporting each other, staying connected, and accepting something they couldn’t control with maturity beyond their years. In many ways, those character traits are just as important as any medal.
A Full-Circle Story: William's Path
For our family, the story didn’t end at the riverbank. After finishing school, William began his apprenticeship and is now a qualified electrician working in the Christchurch Electrical team. Watching him move from the boat shed to the workshop has been a real “full-circle” moment.
The qualities he honed in rowing – turning up on time, putting in the hard yards, trusting his teammates, and performing under pressure – are the same qualities he brings on site every day. As an employer, that’s exactly what you want to see in a young tradesperson. As a father, it’s rewarding to see how those school sporting years helped shape the person and professional he’s become.
Why Community Involvement Matters to Us
Our connection with Christchurch Boys’ High Rowing is just one example of how we like to be involved in the local community. For us, community support isn’t a marketing line; it’s about investing in people. When local businesses get behind local schools, sports teams, and initiatives, everyone benefits – young people gain opportunities, families feel supported, and the wider community grows stronger.
Rowing gave our family memories we’ll never forget and strengthened values that we live by every day at Christchurch Electrical. We’re proud to have stood on the bank with those boys, proud of what they achieved, and proud that our business could be part of their story.
And as I see William now donning a different uniform – hi-vis instead of rowing kit – with that Maadi tribute watching over us in the office, I’m reminded that the real win isn’t just a cup on a shelf. It’s the way these experiences shape confident, capable young people who go on to contribute back into the very community that cheered them on.
Warren Bentley - Contracting Manager | Director
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