The New Zealand Rowing Championships marks the pinnacle of club rowing in the country, and is a spectacle greatly anticipated by the whole rowing community in the country. Not only that, but with the opportunity to claim the prized redcoats from winning a premier event, the race is well and truly on for the title in the men’s premier single sculls event.
Robbie Manson
Robbie Manson is one of New Zealand’s most accomplished scullers, holding the world-best time in the men’s single scull and boasting an impressive international and domestic rowing career. Beginning his journey at Marlborough Boys’ College in 2005, he transitioned to St Andrew’s College in 2007 before moving into high-performance rowing under Wairau Rowing Club. His breakthrough came in 2009 when he and Joe Sullivan dominated the U23 men’s double, winning World Rowing Championship gold. Robbie’s career has been defined by versatility and an ability to perform at the highest level. He stroked the elite men’s quad to a seventh-place finish at the London 2012 Olympic Games before moving into the men’s double, where he won multiple World Rowing Cups. After competing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, he made the bold switch to the single, where he broke the world-best time (6:30.74) in 2017 and dominated the World Rowing Cup circuit. More recently, Robbie has proven his longevity in the sport by qualifying for the men’s double for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with Ben Mason. He raced at the Games alongside Jordan Parry, finishing sixth. At the national level, he has collected numerous Premier titles, most notably with Wairau and Waikato Rowing Club.
Now, all eyes are on him heading into the 2025 New Zealand Rowing Championships. While he may not be the outright favourite in the premier single, his experience, past victories, and ability to perform under pressure make him a genuine contender. At the recent North Island Club Championships, he placed third in the event, and secured silver in the premier double. These are results which suggest he remains in strong form but may have been unlucky in those races. Robbie has lined up against legends of the sport throughout his career and has proven time and time again that he can rise to the occasion. With his technical prowess, unmatched endurance, and wealth of experience, he has the potential to cause an upset and reclaim his place atop the podium. Count him out at your own risk.
Finn Hamill
Finn Hamill is an emerging talent in New Zealand rowing, quickly making a name for himself across multiple disciplines. His journey began in 2016 with St John’s College, where he immediately showcased his talent, securing silver in the U18 novice double at the 2017 Maadi Cup.
Building on that early success, Finn claimed another silver in the boys’ U16 single at Maadi in 2018. His rapid development saw him earn selection for the New Zealand U21 team in 2019 while still in Year 12, competing as a lightweight against Australia in the Trans-Tasman series. In 2020, he led a strong St John’s squad to victory in the boys’ U18 coxed quad at the North Island Secondary School Championships and took silver in the U18 single. Unfortunately, the cancellation of Maadi that year due to COVID-19 denied him the chance to add to his national record. Despite this, he was named in the 2020 Junior longlist. Finn’s breakthrough season came in 2021, rowing for Waikato Rowing Club, where he dominated the senior sculling events at the New Zealand Rowing Championships, winning gold in the men’s senior single, double, and quad to complete the trifecta. After taking a year off in 2022 to travel the world with his family on their yacht, Finn returned in the 2022/23 season with Waikato and reached new heights. He won his first premier national title at the 2023 New Zealand Rowing Championships in the men’s premier double alongside Robbie Manson and also triumphed in the premier quad, securing two red coats. Additionally, he claimed gold in the men’s senior single. This earned him a spot in the U23 team, where he got silver in the lightweight double scull at the U23 World Rowing Championships.
Finn’s momentum has only grown in 2023 and 2024. He made waves on the international stage, winning the men’s open single at the Head of the Charles Regatta, a major milestone in his career. He also dominated coastal rowing, securing gold in the men’s open solo single at the World Coastal Rowing Championships. His partnership with Matthew Dunham has been particularly successful, with the duo winning two gold medals in the men’s single and men’s double at recent competitions. They also shattered records at the 42km Around the Harbour Race in Hong Kong, further proving Finn’s endurance and versatility. At just 23 years old, Finn Hamill is entering his prime, and his recent string of victories has solidified him as one of New Zealand’s most exciting talents. His achievements earned him the title of World Rowing’s Rower of the Month in November 2024, a testament to his growing reputation on the international stage. With his current form and momentum, Finn is a serious contender to complete the premier single trifecta at this year’s New Zealand National Championships. His rapid rise from promising schoolboy rower to elite-level competitor makes him one to watch. With the way he’s performing, he has every chance of claiming one of the biggest titles of his career.
Notable Mentions
Ben Mason is an elite rower who has dominated New Zealand sculling, including multiple victories in the men’s premier single, a title he has won before. A standout at the 2022 Nationals, Ben claimed five gold medals, including in the men’s premier single. He has rowed at the highest levels in various boat classes, including with Robbie Manson in the men’s double, racing against the Sinkovich brothers, and in the men’s elite quad. At the North Island Club Championships, he finished second, narrowly beating Robbie Manson by less than a second. With his wealth of experience and proven success, Ben is undoubtedly a top contender next week.
Angus Kenny, a member of Dunstan Rowing Club, is also one to watch, and has been a dominant force in the South Island this season, remaining undefeated in the men’s premier singles. With valuable experience competing at the U23 World Championships in the U23 quad, Angus has proven himself as one of the South Island’s top scullers. His momentum makes him a serious contender for next week, and his consistent form positions him as a dark horse.
Finally, there are rumours of Paris Olympic bronze medallist Logan Ullrich showing up to take his shot at the title. At Christmas Regatta in December, he took the win in this event by just over three seconds, taking out Robbie Manson to do so. Currently a part of the roster at the University of Washington, Logan has the power and the ability to take the win.
Prediction
The battle between Robbie Manson and Finn Hamill is shaping up to be one of the most exciting races of the regatta. This event has seen plenty of upsets in the past, and anything can happen on the day. However, Finn Hamill is carrying too much momentum to ignore. His recent performances have been outstanding, and he looks to be in peak form. While Robbie’s experience and talent make him a serious contender, I believe Finn has the edge, and to be honest, I want to see him take the win.
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