The dual prize of the Robert Cashman Trophy and the Rolf Porter Memorial Trophy are given to the victorious Men’s Premier Coxless Four at the New Zealand National Championships. At the 2025 New Zealand National Championships, two crews are looking to take these trophies back to their home clubs, and be known as the National Title Holders for the next 12 months. Despite a smaller number of boats entered in the competitive boat class, the event is sure to be one of the most hotly contested of the regatta, and all eyes will be on the two clubs, Waikato Rowing Club and Avon Rowing Club, as they race for their place on the podium. Which club can we expect to take this one home?
Avon Rowing Club
It has been a phenomenal year of racing for the current title holders, Avon Rowing Club. Following their victory in this event last year, returning crewmates of Taylor and Rumble have both had impressive seasons as they look to take their title for a second year in a row, alongside newcomers Watson and Welch. Taylor was named as the reserve for the men’s sweep squad for the Paris Olympic Games after assisting in qualifying the pair for the Olympic year in 2023. Rumble has built on his impressive U23 career with a spot in the prestigious Rowing NZ 2024/25 Summer Squad after a close miss in the qualifying regatta for Paris in the quad. Also a member of the men’s quad was Watson, who joins his team-mate in this season’s National Summer Squad and was named as the non-travelling Olympic reserve. Completing this accomplished four is Welch, who’s impressive season in U23’s saw him take home the gold in the U23 World Rowing Championships in the pair.
Waikato Rowing Club
Also with two returning members from the 2024 crew, last year’s silver medalists bring with them an impressive boat full of athletes ready to take the top spot. Crouch and Vodanovich will be looking to redeem their 2-second loss to Avon in the 2024 National Championships. With a top-four finish at last year’s World Rowing Cup Regatta in the pair, as well as being named as a non-travelling reserve for the 2024 Olympics, Crouch has had a phenomenal year of his senior rowing career. Vadanovich comes into 2025 following a record-defining 2024, completing the U23 World Championships with not only a gold medal but a world record in the pair. One of the two newcomers into this year’s crew, Tutbury also raced at the U23 World Championships, achieving a bronze in the U23 men’s four, whilst Cooper focused his efforts on Henley Royal Regatta in 2024, winning the Temple Challenge in the Oxford Brookes men’s eight last year.
Prediction
With two extremely well-placed crews, and less than two seconds between the gold and silver medalists of last year’s nationals, the result in the premier men’s four this year is extremely tough to call. Each crew brings with them a wealth of international racing experience, and have all participated in races that will only strengthen their performance at the National Championships. However, each race must have a winner, and I say with a certain amount of conviction (though not too much) that the more senior experience of Avon will see them taking the two trophies home this year. I expect it will be a nail-biter of a finish, and we can almost certainly expect the margin between these two boats to be under 1.5 seconds – it will certainly be a regatta highlight.
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