Cambridge – home to most of the New Zealand rowing squad – is honouring its world beating rowers this weekend. Thousands turned out on Friday to welcome the rowing team andother Olympians home to Cambridge. And there is more to come in Hawkes Bay on Saturday.

Most of the top athletes - including the gold medal winning Evers Swindell twins, were at the Cambridge parade, a chance for local people to show their appreciation for the team who have trained on nearby Lake Karapiro more or less twice every day for the past four years. The parade began at the Town Hall and concluded with presentations to all athletes who were there. Thousands of autographs were signed on a grand and sunny day for the sport.

Waipa Mayor Alan Livingstone, a big fan and supporter of the rowing team, said: “We wanted to welcome the team home in style. They are huge ambassadors for New Zealand and for sport, and they are Cambridge residents as well. We’re very proud of all of them and I’m delighted so many came to give them a proper welcome home.”

Homecoming ticker tape street parades will also be held in Hastings and Napier today to welcome rowing gold medallists Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell.

More large crowds are expected to turn out, similar to the thousands that greeted them in 2004 following their win in Athens. The Hastings parade will end with a civic reception by Hastings District mayor Lawrence Yule. “The achievements of Caroline and Georgina are truly remarkable. They are two of New Zealand’s most successful sports people and the community wants to congratulate their win in style,” Mayor Yule said.

The twins take in some of the atmosphere yesterday amongst a very appreciative Cambridge community