One of the most exciting races of the Regatta is undoubtedly the Boys U17 Eight. Seen as a slight precursor for next season’s Maadi Cup, this event is filled with rowers rowing down from U18, and rowers from U16 out-seating those older than them. The event returns again to the legendary waters of Lake Karapiro, where the course record of 5:50 was set for this event. Competitors from across the North and South Island will be eyeing each other up in the hopes of taking one of the prestigious titles in New Zealand rowing. This article will cover the three favourites which I think will medal come finals day.
Kings College
An utterly ruthless unit in the boy’s eights this year, Kings College has been on a serial winning streak. Winners of the novice eight, U15 eight, U16 eight, and U17 eight at the North Island Secondary School Championships, there is no doubting the success of Kings big boat program. This U17 eight has placed first at every single regatta this season (except for the Christmas regatta, losing out to Shore by two seconds). The efficient pace and execution at which Kings has been executing races all season has led to them being crowned victors at NISS and Junior Regatta in the U17 eight and winners of the club eight at Karapiro Club Regatta and North Island Club Championships. Silver medallist’s in the U16 eight from the year before, this contingent will be looking at the times set by Christ’s College in the South Island to determine where they stand among the schools in New Zealand. Six members of this Kings College U17 eight were also featured in the U18 eight, placing an impressive fifth in that final as such a young crew. Much of their success can be attributed to the coaching team that head coach Mark Clemo has introduced into Kings. Watched on by the experienced eyes of Hasselbach (former South African Olympian), and Elliott (who was a gold medallist for Kings in his time there), the crew are in very capable hands. Led by stroke Marcus Macleod, who has been on hot form this season, Kings will be looking to add their name to the long history of the Arthur Andrews shield. For many, this crew will be the favourites to win this year, especially with the unbeatable form they have been in this season; the only crew that has beaten them has been from overseas.
Hamilton Boys High School
One of the most prominent names in boy’s big boat rowing is Hamilton Boys High School. Winners of the Maadi Cup last season, and champions in the U17 eight a few times in recent history, Hamilton Boys are a force to be contended with in the eights. However, despite their illustrious history in this boat class, they have failed to come close to Kings College all season. Hamilton Boys have consistently been just under a length down from Kings College – still with overlap but never close enough to overpower. While the fact that they haven’t lost by clear water in 2025 indicates they are getting faster, this crew still have a decent margin to close in order to draw level with the leaders; much will be dependent on whether they have trained hard enough on the Waikato River these past few weeks to turn the tables. This eight is coached by some of the most notable coaches in New Zealand rowing: Bruce Holden and Alex Kennedy. Holden was a silver medallist for New Zealand at the 1986 World Rowing Championships, and was the coach who took the Hamilton Boys eight across to the Henley Royal Regatta last season. Kennedy was a member of the New Zealand eight which he helped qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, and also a double world champion at the U23 level. With an impressive coaching team with extensive technical knowledge, it is up to the boys themselves to send a message at the Maadi Regatta, and perhaps take the crown off Kings for the first time this season. With the stakes the highest they’ve been all season, now is the time for them to make their mark.
Christchurch Boys High School
The favourites from the South Island to take this title will undoubtedly be Christchurch Boys High School. While not as dominant as Kings have been in the North Island, Christchurch Boys have consistently been the fastest U17 eight that the South Island has produced this season. Always a few seconds clear of last year’s U16 eight champions, Christ’s College, these lads will be eyeing up Kings for an exciting duel on Lake Karapiro. One of the large South Island powers in sweep rowing, Christchurch Boys have won the Maadi Cup once in 2019, and if this crew is anything similar to that of their 2019 crew, the bar will be set high in terms of expectations. Comparing times across the North and South Island, Christchurch Boys are slightly slower than the times that Kings have been doing in the North Island, but times can vary significantly across the two islands, and Lake Ruataniwha is known to be a little slower than other venues. Christchurch Boys are coached by the South Island representative coach Tim Osmers, who has a wealth of experience in the sport. The eight will be hoping to set a quick time in the heats, and if they are placed in the same heat with the North Island favourites, it will be a race which could certainly set the tone for the regatta. This crew should have confidence, being champions of the South Island, but whether they stand up to the test of Kings and Hamilton Boys is yet to be seen.
Predictions
For me, the clear winner of this event is Kings College. Not only have they dominated their age group in the U17 eight, they have also been champions of the North Island in the club eight. What is particularly impressive is that they have done so without utilising any row-downs (athletes who row down an age group due to their birthday). Kings are a true force to contend with, and may even be favourites for the Maadi Cup in a season’s time. For second, I would put it between Hamilton Boys and Christchurch Boys, but ultimately, I think Christchurch will take second place. For third, Hamilton Boys faces competition, mainly from Christ’s College, as the rest of the North Island eights are well off the pace at this point. Between Hamilton Boys and Christ’s College, I think Christ’s will have a slight edge, as they did win the U16 eight the season before, though, frankly, it’s all to play for.
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