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Rowing 100km with a purpose
A Christchurch rower's tribute to her late mum
Meet Audsley Jones, the quietly determined woman from Christchurch who, earlier this year, accomplished the impressive challenge of rowing 100km in a single day.
Unlike most rowers in New Zealand who are introduced to the sport in high school, Audsley’s journey into rowing took a different path. Born and raised in Auckland, she was active in various sports during her school years but had never tried rowing. After studying Engineering at Auckland University, it wasn’t until she was 25 that she discovered rowing through a learn-to-row program at West End Rowing Club. Her passion for the sport was born, leading her to join the clubs novice squad and compete in her first rowing nationals in Twizel in 2013—a place that would become very familiar to her in the years that followed.
In 2013, Audsley moved to Christchurch for work and quickly immersed herself in the local rowing community. Although rowing on Kerr’s Reach was a stark contrast to the Whau River, the camaraderie and sense of belonging she found within the rowing club scene remained the same.
“Rowing gave me a family in Christchurch,” Audsley reflects.
Audsley preparing for a training session, her boat is named Emunah, which is Hebrew for faith with a driven purpose. Photo: Elizabeth Inglis Photography
Her involvement with rowing in the South Island quickly grew. Proximity and availability saw her in the fold as a volunteer in Twizel. She quickly discovered how much she loved the community of people that help make the regattas at Lake Ruataniwha tick and became a qualified umpire.
“I love giving back to the sport where I can” says Audsley.
Let’s learn more about this 100km challenge…
As we sat down to chat, it became clear that this goal was more than just a physical challenge. It was also a test of mental and emotional endurance—and if any sport is going to prepare you for that, rowing has it in spades.
Simple statements helped Audsley focus on the day. Photo: Elizabeth Inglis Photography
Audsley trained for over six months, though the journey wasn’t without its hurdles. As June 1st approached, the colder days made it harder to stay motivated, and the mental battle with the erg was ever present. But the reason behind her challenge never wavered: raising money and awareness for Bowel Cancer New Zealand.
It’s been 21 years since Audsley lost her mother to bowel cancer, and she wanted to honour her memory while also supporting an organisation that makes a huge impact in New Zealand, from supporting those affected by the disease to advocating for early testing and funding critical research.
The original plan was to row 40km in a single scull, followed by 20km in a quad, 20km in a double, and the final 20km back in the single, with two-hour rowing blocks and one-hour breaks in between to manage the day.
However, on the day strong winds at Kerr’s Reach forced a slight change in plans. Based out of the Union Rowing Club, Audsley started with 42km on the erg (on sliders), before moving to the quad. Being on the water with friends was a welcome relief, helping break up the long day. She moved to the double next, freely admitting that these middle kilometres were the hardest mentally. With the final shift in the single scull and her body just going through the motions, it sounds like this is when her amazing support crew really came into their own, riding alongside her until the numbers were up. 100km ticked off, mission complete, a very impressive effort.
Audsley’s friends joined her in the quad for 20km of the 100km challenge. Photo: Stefanie Baker-Burns
With the challenge now behind her and her fundraising goals for Bowel Cancer New Zealand achieved, Audsley says it still hasn’t sunk in that she rowed 100km in a single day. Aware from the start that it would be both a physical and emotional test, she feels profoundly grateful for the support of her rowing community and others who encouraged her along the way.
“I feel blessed to have met so many people through this experience” she says.
Audsley has every reason to be quietly proud of what she’s accomplished—a heartfelt tribute to her mother through the sport she loves.
Liz Inglis
Liz Inglis is a content creator and photographer based in Christchurch. As well as being a rowing parent, she is also a masters rower for the Avon Rowing Club.
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- Home
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- Health & Wellbeing
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- Rowing 100km with...
Rowing 100km with a purpose
A Christchurch rower's tribute to her late mum
Meet Audsley Jones, the quietly determined woman from Christchurch who, earlier this year, accomplished the impressive challenge of rowing 100km in a single day.
Unlike most rowers in New Zealand who are introduced to the sport in high school, Audsley’s journey into rowing took a different path. Born and raised in Auckland, she was active in various sports during her school years but had never tried rowing. After studying Engineering at Auckland University, it wasn’t until she was 25 that she discovered rowing through a learn-to-row program at West End Rowing Club. Her passion for the sport was born, leading her to join the clubs novice squad and compete in her first rowing nationals in Twizel in 2013—a place that would become very familiar to her in the years that followed.
In 2013, Audsley moved to Christchurch for work and quickly immersed herself in the local rowing community. Although rowing on Kerr’s Reach was a stark contrast to the Whau River, the camaraderie and sense of belonging she found within the rowing club scene remained the same.
“Rowing gave me a family in Christchurch,” Audsley reflects.
Audsley preparing for a training session, her boat is named Emunah, which is Hebrew for faith with a driven purpose. Photo: Elizabeth Inglis Photography
Her involvement with rowing in the South Island quickly grew. Proximity and availability saw her in the fold as a volunteer in Twizel. She quickly discovered how much she loved the community of people that help make the regattas at Lake Ruataniwha tick and became a qualified umpire.
“I love giving back to the sport where I can” says Audsley.
Let’s learn more about this 100km challenge…
As we sat down to chat, it became clear that this goal was more than just a physical challenge. It was also a test of mental and emotional endurance—and if any sport is going to prepare you for that, rowing has it in spades.
Simple statements helped Audsley focus on the day. Photo: Elizabeth Inglis Photography
Audsley trained for over six months, though the journey wasn’t without its hurdles. As June 1st approached, the colder days made it harder to stay motivated, and the mental battle with the erg was ever present. But the reason behind her challenge never wavered: raising money and awareness for Bowel Cancer New Zealand.
It’s been 21 years since Audsley lost her mother to bowel cancer, and she wanted to honour her memory while also supporting an organisation that makes a huge impact in New Zealand, from supporting those affected by the disease to advocating for early testing and funding critical research.
The original plan was to row 40km in a single scull, followed by 20km in a quad, 20km in a double, and the final 20km back in the single, with two-hour rowing blocks and one-hour breaks in between to manage the day.
However, on the day strong winds at Kerr’s Reach forced a slight change in plans. Based out of the Union Rowing Club, Audsley started with 42km on the erg (on sliders), before moving to the quad. Being on the water with friends was a welcome relief, helping break up the long day. She moved to the double next, freely admitting that these middle kilometres were the hardest mentally. With the final shift in the single scull and her body just going through the motions, it sounds like this is when her amazing support crew really came into their own, riding alongside her until the numbers were up. 100km ticked off, mission complete, a very impressive effort.
Audsley’s friends joined her in the quad for 20km of the 100km challenge. Photo: Stefanie Baker-Burns
With the challenge now behind her and her fundraising goals for Bowel Cancer New Zealand achieved, Audsley says it still hasn’t sunk in that she rowed 100km in a single day. Aware from the start that it would be both a physical and emotional test, she feels profoundly grateful for the support of her rowing community and others who encouraged her along the way.
“I feel blessed to have met so many people through this experience” she says.
Audsley has every reason to be quietly proud of what she’s accomplished—a heartfelt tribute to her mother through the sport she loves.
Liz Inglis
Liz Inglis is a content creator and photographer based in Christchurch. As well as being a rowing parent, she is also a masters rower for the Avon Rowing Club.
