KRI Club Regatta 2024 – Open Events Review

Welcome back to New Zealand racing on the big stage, and we open with a great contest: KRI Club Regatta. Despite some harsh rain, the racing was intense. For the open events, the pattern was clear: Waikato, Waikato, Waikato. Without further ado, let’s look at the highlights of the weekend.

Men’s Eights

An impressive win by the Waikato Rowing Club saw the club collect their first of a plethora of first-place finishes. The battle for second place was the most exciting part of this event, with St George’s Rowing Club, comprised primarily of U19s, sprinting to the line with a half-second lead over a very impressive schoolboy crew from North Shore Rowing Club. Beyond the podium, with the ability to compete at such a high level in the open eights, the impressive crew from Westlake Boys High School rowing under the colours of the North Shore Rowing Club may be one to watch for the season.

Women’s Eights

In a similar story to the men’s eights, the hugely impressive Waikato crews finished first and second in this A-final. The fight for first place saw just an eighth of a second difference between the two crews, showing once again the depth and competitiveness of the club. Expect them to only get faster as the season progresses. Rounding off the podium in third place was the crew from the North Shore Rowing Club just over seven seconds behind Waikato.

Men’s Coxless Quads

Once again, in a powerful display, Waikato took out the top two places on the podium. With an almost eight-second margin between the Waikato ‘A’ and ‘B’, it was the race for second that was undoubtedly more exciting. By only half a second gap at the finish line, Waikato‘s second crew crossed the line ahead of the crew from Hamilton Rowing Club, prevailing by the narrowest of margins. Regardless, these boys still seemed to be in a league of their own, finishing ahead of the field by multiple lengths. The main question posed currently is whether anyone else can close the gap to these three clubs.

Women’s Coxless Quads

In a field of only Waikato Rowing Club and North Shore Rowing Club crews, once again, it was the Waikato crew who finished on top of the podium, with an unbelievable almost ten-second margin back to the North Shore crew. Solidly in second place, the North Shore crew was safe from the fight for third between the two Waikato crews. Ultimately, it was the Waikato ‘B’ crew who took the lead over their peers in a tight finish in this A-final.

Men’s Coxless Fours

A clean sweep for the three places on the podium saw the Waikato crews once again dominate here. Stroked by the stroke seat of the 2024 Maadi Cup winning eight, the Waikato four led in a convincing one-length win over second place. A tussle in the dying stages of the race saw one of the Waikato crews edge over their peers in a minute 0.26-second gap to claim silver. Just out of reach of the podium steps were North Shore, less than two seconds off medal pace. I am certain they’ll be looking to correct that error come Christmas Regatta.

Women’s Coxless Fours

Despite only three crews entering this event, it was yet another dominant performance from Waikato Rowing Club, taking gold by an immense 16-second margin over second place, also from Waikato. This is simply just another reflection of the might of this club, and how few can truly stack up against them. Trailing by a further ten seconds was the crew from North Shore Rowing Club, who still produced a fairly valiant effort.

Men’s Double Sculls

Similarly, in this event, Waikato Rowing Club took out the top two positions on the podium, with Riley Wills and Oscar Ruston winning the event, followed by their peers Sebastian Fulton and James Brott with a five-second margin between the two crews. Rounding off the podium was the crew from the Auckland Rowing Club: Ryan Gass and Freddie Eadie. This crew is no stronger to the podium, though they were still almost seven seconds off either Waikato crew. However, with three crews from the Auckland Rowing Club in the A-final of this event, it is evident that the squad holds potential further into the season.

Women’s Double Sculls

An extremely impressive display by Waikato saw their rowers take five out of a possible eight spots in the A-final of this event. What was perhaps even more impressive was the fact that the top half of the A-final was completely comprised of Waikato crews, taking home first, second, third, fourth and seventh. All with similar ten-second margins in the top three of this event, Waikato left little room for any other club, putting out a clear statement that they are not to be underestimated. Seemingly a key feature to this regatta, North Shore comprised the three remaining positions in the final, finishing fifth, sixth and eighth.

Men’s Coxless Pairs

In a clean sweep for Waikato Rowing Club, it was the winners of the U18 pair at Maadi earlier this year who once again teamed up to take an impressive win in this event. The Waikato crew of Dylan McConnell and Zach Brownlee won with an impressive ten-second margin over the second-placed Waikato crew. The battle for second place was more exciting, as the Waikato crew of Ethan Steyn and Arie Magasiva went toe to tow with their peers Jack Henry and Henry Gavin in a tight finish of only half a second. You have to go a further 12 seconds back to find a crew without the Waikato colours, a feat not to be taken for granted.

Women’s Coxless Pairs

It was a similar story in the women’s pairs with, once again, a clean sweep for Waikato. Extending a margin of 15 seconds between first and second place, the Waikato ‘A’ crew were clearly in control of the race. With a closer margin between second and third, Waikato demonstrated the seemingly endless talent of the squad along with their clear success as a club. The first non-Waikato club was North Shore, finishing fourth but an absurd 52 seconds off first place, revealing how few threats Waikato have in this event.

Men’s Single Sculls

In an impressive display, the Waikato Rowing Club: Oscar Ruston took home a powerful win in the A-final of the men’s open singles with a lead of over ten seconds. Finishing strong in second place was the sculler from Cambridge Rowing Club: Karl Manson who extended his seven-second lead over another Waikato sculler Riley Wills. A tight battle for fourth place saw Waikato’s James Scott with a quarter of a second win over Auckland Rowing Club sculler Ryan Gass. Who prevails in the singles is dependent on so many factors, it should be fascinating to see how this order changes throughout the season.

Women’s Single Sculls

A closely contended battle for first place in this A-final saw the sculler from Ashburton Rowing Club: Veronica Wall edge over the Waikato sculler Sophie Egnot-Johnson in a swing over the line of only 0.4 seconds. Being one of the only people in the entire regatta to beat out Waikato to the top step in an open event, this win has a lot of significance. Having comfortably been the leaders of the race, the third place finish of the Star Boating Club sculler Mackenzie Tuffin saw her just ten seconds off the fight for first and second.

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