Fred Strachan’s name is synonymous with champions.
As a rower, Strachan won more than 100 races in eight seasons — "I suppose I had reasonable success" — but it is on the sideline where the rowing identity made a name for himself.
For 64 years Strachan coached numerous crews at Dunedin secondary schools, and North End and Avon clubs, helping more than 70 athletes go on to represent New Zealand, including Hamish Bond who started at Otago Boys’.
Strachan managed national crews, officiated at three Olympics and three world championships, served as a national selector for 25 years, and as president and vice-president of New Zealand Rowing and is still the organisation’s vice-patron.
But perhaps his impact is best attested for by nine organisations making him a life member, including the New Zealand Rowing Association.
"When you are at the top there you are singled out . . If you get one life member in your lifetime it’s pretty good, but to get nine is something special," Strachan said.
Then there are the various awards, including a Queen’s Service Medal, Halberg Lifetime Achievement Awards for outstanding services to the sport and the Sir Don Rowlands Medal.
Strachan has packed a lot in to the last 100 years, with the rowing identity celebrating the milestone at his Twizel home today.
He will mark the occasion accordingly on Saturday, with more than 150 people and several former world champions, including Caroline Meyer (nee Evers-Swindell) and Dick Joyce, making the trip to Twizel for the festivities.
Rowing has always been at the fore of Strachan’s life. Growing up in Dunedin, he was drawn to the "smell of salt water" and the atmosphere down by the Otago Harbour.
He had been dragged to cox a boat occasionally, but his affiliation with North End formally began when he was discharged from the services in 1944.
When he returned to the city a colleague, who was a member of North End, asked him to join the club.
"That was the general trend. People coming back from the navy, air force, the army and trying to re-establish their life."
From 1944 until 1953, Strachan rowed in predominantly Otago v Southland regattas, with national championships harder to attend as boats were unable to travel on the road — they were too long — and had to go by train.
A change of jobs meant Strachan travelled Monday to Thursday, making it harder for him to row, so instead he took up coaching.
In 1960, he coached North End’s coxed four to the prestigious "Boss Rooster" at the national championships.
"I’ve rejoiced in the success of the club scene.
"We won that with four people who were actually youth rowing, they were under 21, which was quite unusual — that was a big day.
"We had a lot of success in that period.
"We were roaring the roost around Otago-Southland for quite a long number of years."
That crew remained one of Strachan’s proudest moments, alongside the Avon eight — he spent 11 years at the Christchurch club from 1969 when he moved north for work — which won the Boss Rooster three years in a row with the same members.
"That was something special.
"All those people that have done well are ones that you feel pretty proud of."
Rowing has come a long way and Strachan played a big role in that, being nominated as a national selector in 1963 and two years later was made convener.
Back then, hardly any crews raced internationally due to financial restraints and there was no depth in the sport.
There was a desire to select the best people in the same boats, and while he downplays his involvement in the change, he was delighted to see the depth and success in the sport now.
"Not so much because of my impact, but proud of the fact New Zealand rowing did reach the top.
"We had competed, of course, in ’64, ’68, but the winning of the eight in 1972, which was the most prestigious rowing event in the world, and footing it with Great Britain, United States, Germany — the big countries, big wealthy countries — it was a special achievement.
"Fifty-odd years later . .. they’ve won more Olympic medals than any other sport. They’re top-liners and they’re respected throughout the world."
If coaching and administration roles did not take up enough of his time, Strachan was also an international umpire from 1964 to 1988, attending the 1964 Olympics as a juge-abitre and officiating at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 events, and officiating the world championships in 1970, 1978 and 1981.
He recalled seeing the 1972 eight win gold decisively as a standout, with attitude changing towards New Zealand previously being viewed as amateurs.
"Eight in rowing is very special because you have to combine eight rowers into virtually one and the boat itself is a very fast moving boat.
As an individual that’s something great. It’s just unique."
Rowing — and the tight-knit people involved — had become a "very close personal thing" for Strachan which had given him plenty of joy before retiring in 2016.
"It’s being able to amalgamate a crew into a unit. Moving in harmony — it’s just a holistic experience."
He, and his late wife, Kate, moved to Twizel in 2005 and were both heavily involved with South Island rowing. He was proud of Twizel’s international course and would love nothing more than to see a world championship regatta held at the town.
While he enjoyed seeing New Zealand rise to the top of international rowing, club rowing had suffered, with top athletes leaving for high performance centres.
School rowing numbers were "tremendous" but with more children working, it had "depleted" the club scene. Top level athletes needed to return to their clubs and help push clubs in to the future, he said.
"We want some of those rowers to go back into clubs to be role models for the continuation.
"I believe we can do it and prove we can do it. We can bring rowers to their peak, such as Hamish Bond, who started rowing and was a member of [North End] before."
Despite stepping down from his various roles in recent years, the sport is never far from his mind.
Three years ago, aged 97, he became the 100m, 300m, 500m and 2000m national masters indoor rowing champion, but he doubts he would be able to get behind the seat again without a little training.
Strachan has made a big impact in 100 years — but his legacy will surpass this milestone birthday for years to come.
