Coming into the penultimate event of the season – the North Island Rowing Championships – all eyes are on the crews to perform. With this being the last chance to test crews and combinations in a race environment before the highly awaited National Rowing Championships, anything could be on the cards.
Waikato Rowing Club
The Waikato Rowing Club men’s open eight is currently the best in the North Island, solidifying their dominance with a convincing win at the Christmas Regatta. They crossed the line four seconds ahead of Shore BC from Australia, with the closest New Zealand crew trailing by nearly ten seconds, making them strong favourites for the centre of the podium. This crew is a seamless mix of youthful talent and experienced rowers, built on a foundation of success and guided by a world-class coach. Over half of the crew hails from Hamilton Boys’ High School, all of whom are Maadi Cup champions. Their chemistry, forged through years of rowing together, sets them apart as a cohesive and highly competitive unit.
Notable athletes in the crew include Zach Brownlee and Dylan McConnell, who set a new schoolboy record in the U18 pair at the Maadi Cup. At the Christmas Regatta, the duo narrowly missed a win in the premier pair event, finishing less than a second behind New Zealand elite rowers – a testament to their exceptional talent. Alongside them are Ethan Steyn and Jonty Mackintosh, all members of the 2024 Maadi Cup-winning crew that also claimed the trifecta of U18 titles. Adding to their strength is Adam Wilson, who graduated high school in 2022 and represented New Zealand at the U19 World Championships, proving his capabilities as a powerful sweeper. Another key member is Jack Henry, renowned for his single sculling prowess with medals in both the U17 and U18 singles, now bringing his skill to sweeping. The crew is expertly steered by Oliver Duncan, fresh off a gold medal at the U23 World Rowing Championships, where he guided the U23 women’s coxed four to victory.
This impressive lineup is coached by Nick Barton, a seasoned professional with experience coaching elite New Zealand crews, including those at the Olympic level. Under his guidance, the crew has built a strong foundation and consistent performance. While their primary challenge lies ahead at the New Zealand Rowing Championships against Avon Rowing Club, they are undoubtedly the favourites for the North Island Club Championships, bringing all the components needed for continued dominance.
St George’s Rowing Club
The St George’s men’s open eight is the quintessential underdog story: a crew that has risen from relative obscurity to challenge some of the top teams in the country. Despite being a smaller club, St George’s boasts a proud history, having been established in 1883 as New Zealand’s 12th oldest rowing club. With their boathouse located just two kilometres down the river from Auckland Rowing Club, a rivalry exists that adds extra intensity to their racing. Over the last few seasons, the club has experienced a resurgence, fueled by an influx of schoolboy rowers and a renewed sense of ambition.
In the men’s open eight at the Christmas Regatta, St George’s finished fifth, but their result doesn’t tell the full story. They were only five seconds off the podium and a mere two seconds behind North Shore, a crew featuring some highly decorated athletes. With a more aggressive third 500 meters and an extra push at the 250-meter mark, this crew has the potential to outpace North Shore off the start and hold their position through the race. If they can maintain contact with Waikato into the halfway mark, their momentum and grit could carry them to a medal. As a crew transitioning from the club category to the open category, their performance is impressive, and they are undoubtedly hungry to prove themselves on a bigger stage.
The crew features standout athletes like Fraser MacGillivray, who rowed for Mount Albert Grammar School and has extensive experience. He made the A-final of the U18 pair and claimed bronze in the U18 four at the Maadi Cup. MacGillivray has also represented Auckland Province twice, bringing valuable racing experience to the boat. Alongside him is Ethan Green, with whom he placed sixth in the A-final of the senior four and narrowly missed medaling in the senior coxless pair at the Christmas Regatta. These results demonstrate the crew’s strength and competitiveness, even against seasoned opponents. Under the guidance of coach John Cook, who has worked with Glendowie Rowing and learned from renowned figures like Allan Vester, the crew is tactically sharp and well-prepared. As they approach this regatta, Cook’s experience and ability to motivate his rowers make him a key asset. This St George’s eight is comparable to the Alpine Formula 1 team: talented, well-equipped, and unpredictable. They have all the pieces to cause an upset; it’s just a matter of executing their race strategy to perfection. As the dark horse of the regatta, they are poised to turn heads and could very well leave with a medal if everything falls into place.
Prediction
It would be seriously difficult to envision anybody but Waikato at the centre stage of the podium come finals day, though stranger things have happened. As mentioned previously, if St George’s can perform their race plan well enough, a step on the podium is theirs to make their own, and at the end of the day, it’s just up to how much they want it.
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