Due to supplementary entries still being open, JRN does not have the official draw for Christmas Regatta 2024; however, here are some crews which, based on past performances and current information, we expect to enter and perform well in these events.
Taking to Lake Kārapiro once again, the best athletes the North Island has to offer gather to battle it out in arguably some of the toughest events in the programme. With three days of racing allowing for a larger lineup in these categories, only the best can come out on top.
Men’s Open Eights
Waikato Rowing Club
This crew consists of several familiar faces, such as Jack Henry, who’s ever-growing list of notable performances includes being part of the Trans-Tasman U21 team alongside taking home three medals at last year’s National Rowing Championships. Other honourable mentions include Dylan McConnell and Zach Brownlee, who, despite being new additions to the Waikato squad, are certainly no strangers to the racecourse at Lake Kārapiro. The pair are familiar names across the New Zealand rowing circuit, primarily thanks to their phenomenal performances, remaining mostly undefeated throughout last season. They also closed out their school careers with a triple victory across the U18 eight, four and pair, representing Hamilton Boys High School. Bursting with talent and racing experience, this crew is set to be a tough group to beat.
Westlake Boys High School
Ready to rise to the challenge could be the boys from Westlake Boys High School. Led by coxswain Flynn Wigglesworth, the crew fought a fierce battle to the line with St George’s Rowing Club in the open eight a few weeks ago at KRI Club Regatta, and are set to return to try and step up yet again. This crew includes athletes who have already begun to make their mark this season, with George Langley and Jack Buckley taking home a win in the U18 pair, with Langley joining Sam Bird and Donovan Pivac as part of the winning U18 coxed four. While these boys can clearly hold their own within their age group, will it be enough to take home a win in the open category?
St Peter’s College
Another crew who shouldn’t be counted out is the boys from St Peter’s College. At Kārapiro Club Regatta a few weeks ago, they finished in a respectable fourth place, only half a length behind the tussle between Westlake Boys and St George’s. Assuming the crew remains similar, then we can assume the boat has some significant race experience, with athletes such as James Mowat, Benjamin Davison and Otis Twose, to name a few, making up part of the bronze medal-winning U17 eight from last season’s Aon Maadi Regatta. Though not quite pushing in front just yet, this St Peter’s crew seems to have a lot of potential and is certainly a crew to watch.
Men’s Intermediate Eights
Auckland Rowing Club
Despite not seeing much from them in the big boats so far this season, there is still a strong possibility Auckland Rowing Club will make a return to the category, especially given their success last season. Their eight, coxed by Ryan Slater, seized a national title in this event at the New Zealand Rowing Championships earlier this year ahead of major competitors from Waikato Rowing Club and Avon Rowing Club. Having seen the athletes from these boats continue to succeed so far this season in other events, we wait in anticipation to see if this team will make a return to the category this weekend to reclaim their standing. Of course, many of the previous crew will have moved up to higher categories since last season, but I am sure the club will have more athletes eager to step up.
Auckland Grammar School, King’s College & Westlake Boys High School
As this competition’s schedule is more spread out than that of a fortnight ago, we tend to see more school crews popping up across the intermediate events. Although we haven’t seen much of these crews so far, being this early in the season, we can be confident to expect crews appearing from the bigger programmes such as Auckland Grammar, King’s College or Westlake Boys. Though finishing quite considerably behind Hawke’s Bay Rowing Club in the intermediate eight a few weeks ago, Auckland Grammar fought viciously against King’s College to be crowned runners-up, so it will be interesting to see how this crew develops as the season progresses.
Predictions
I can safely admit that I would be surprised to see the Waikato RC crew fall behind any other crew at this stage. The combination of athletes with years of national and international racing experience, coupled with the consistent strength of performances the club as a whole has been producing of late, sets them apart from the rest of the lineup in my opinion. In the Intermediate Eights, given that the schedule could allow for several new contenders to enter the intermediate category than those we’ve seen so far, it’s harder to tell who could come out on top. However, I wouldn’t be too hesitant to pin it on one of the school crews, with the teams from King’s College and Westlake Boys showing consistent promise across their squads. I’ll be keen to see where they settle amongst the talented lineup.
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