Image Credit: World Rowing
Men’s Eight
Luke Tompkins (Avon Rowing Club)
Luke Tompkins began rowing in 2022 for Timaru Boys’ High School and quickly demonstrated elite potential. At his first 2k regatta, the Meridian Otago Championships, he earned four podium finishes across both sculling and sweep boats. That novice season alone yielded nine medals, including seven golds, and two standout victories in the U16 four and U16 quad at the Maadi Cup, a rare feat that highlights his ability as a true hybrid rower
In his second season, Luke stepped up to race more demanding events like the U19 pair and senior club categories, where he again performed strongly. He capped the season with a gold in the U17 coxed four, alongside current U19 teammates Ben Allan and Payo O’Sullivan, winning by a dominant three-second margin. His versatility shone as he made three A-finals across sweep and sculling disciplines, earning him a spot in the North vs South team, where he raced in both the U18 eight and U18 pair. Luke now trains out of Avon Rowing Club, where he is one of the youngest and one of the most high-performing athletes in the club’s formidable men’s squad. He played a key role in Avon’s Club Squad trifecta victory this season, claiming gold in the club pair (with current crewmate Bede Giera), four, and eight, all with convincing margins. Now stroke of the U19 eight, Luke’s composure and high-rating capability will be pivotal. Surrounded by familiar Avon teammates in the stern four, he’s in prime position to lead from the front in his debut on the world stage.
Bede Giera (Avon Rowing Club)
Bede Giera, also making his debut at the U19 World Rowing Championships, began rowing in 2021 for St Bede’s College. From the outset, Bede showed a knack for producing results. In his novice Maadi Cup campaign, he won gold in the U18 novice four and was strong enough to race up in the U17 second eight.
His breakthrough came in 2023, when, as a young rower, he helped the St Bede’s U18 eight win the Maadi Cup in a record-breaking 5:42.17, a stunning feat for an athlete under age. He also collected bronze in the U16 four and made A-finals in both the U17 eight and pair. That year, he earned South Island selection for the North vs South regatta, racing alongside now-teammate Payo O’Sullivan and clocking a rapid 5:57.9 in the U18 eight, proving he could hold composure in fast, high-pressure eights. At the 2024 Maadi Cup, Bede continued his strong form, winning gold in the U17 eight and silver in the U18 eight. He then joined Avon Rowing Club’s dominant club squad. Bede is a powerful and consistent sweep rower with big-race experience. Bede brings both grit and speed to the stern of this international eight.
Ben Allan (Avon Rowing Club)
Ben Allan is one of the most experienced members of this U19 eight and a returning U19 World Rowing Championship athlete, having placed fourth in this event last year. A red coat holder, an elite distinction in New Zealand rowing awarded to those who win premier national events, Ben’s credentials speak volumes.
He started rowing in 2020 for Timaru Boys’ High School, initially focusing on sculling. Early highlights include a gold medal in the U15 quad at Maadi 2021 and a competitive run in the U18 quad the following year. His breakout season came in 2023, where he won four medals: gold in the U16 single, four, and quad, plus silver in the double, narrowly missing a fifth podium in the U17 four. In 2024, he went on to win gold in the U17 single and four, further cementing his reputation. Ben was selected for the New Zealand U19 eight while still in school, a rare achievement, and now rejoins the squad with even more momentum. This season, he won his red coat as part of Avon’s premier eight, the top club crew in the country, and also claimed silver in the men’s senior four alongside Payo O’Sullivan. Ben is a key figure in this campaign with deep experience in eights and a hunger to push further than last year’s fourth-place finish.
Payo O’Sullivan (Avon Rowing Club)
Another returning athlete from last year’s U19 eight, Payo O’Sullivan, has built an impressive rowing CV as both a sculler and a sweeper. He started strongly in his novice year, earning bronze in the U16 coxed quad at the Maadi Cup. His rise continued in his second year with double gold in the U16 quad and four, plus silver in the double, again alongside Ben Allan, showing strong synergy in both codes of the sport.
A South Island representative in the North vs South clash, Payo gained valuable experience in high-performance racing early. In his final year of school, he claimed bronze in the U18 pair and gold in the U17 four, leading to his selection for the 2023 U19 men’s eight. During that campaign, he rowed in the bow seat and brings that composure and international exposure into this year’s crew. At Avon, Payo has flourished, training in a high-performance environment under elite coaching. He was selected for the Canterbury interprovincial squad, placing first in the open coxed four, and medalled across the men’s senior and premier eights at the club level. Training alongside world-class rowers like Oliver Welch, Payo enters this campaign sharper than ever. With two seasons of international experience and domestic dominance in sweep events, he is a vital asset in the engine room of this eight.
Corben Campbell (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
Corben Campbell adds a youthful edge to this U19 eight, coming straight from the powerhouse that is Hamilton Boys’ High School. Despite only taking up rowing in 2022, Corben already boasts a Maadi Cup victory in the U18 eight, winning in commanding fashion at Lake Ruataniwha in 2024. That season, he was also selected for the North Island team at the North vs South clash, where he won both the U18 four and U18 eight, proving his value in big-boat racing.
This year, Corben broadened his experience by giving the single scull a go, making the A-final at North Island Secondary Schools and racing it well at Maadi. While he narrowly missed a medal in the U18 eight at this year’s Maadi Cup, placing fourth, he did earn silver in the U18 four. Although not the most decorated rower in this crew, Corben brings strong composure under pressure. Coming from one of New Zealand’s most successful schoolboy sweep programmes, he’s proven he can deliver when it counts, an energising presence in the bow four.
Jack Buckley (Westlake Boys’ High School)
Jack Buckley’s rowing journey is one of perseverance and growth. Starting in 2022 for Westlake Boys’, Jack spent his early years quietly building a foundation in the four and eight. Although he didn’t medal at Maadi in his first two seasons, he consistently made finals at North Island Club Champs and North Island Secondary Schools.
His breakthrough came in 2023 when he was selected for the North Island team in the North vs South regatta, winning both the U18 four and eight, and subsequently making the Auckland men’s provincial team. There, he placed second across all his events, including U20 and open-level eights, racing against some of the country’s best. This most recent season marked a turning point. Jack led a dominant Westlake Boys’ squad to an almost undefeated run, winning the pair, four, and eight at Head of Harbour, North Islands, and finally, the Maadi Cup, securing a historic trifecta. As a leader across all three boats, Jack brings strength, rhythm, and real momentum into this crew.
Blake Cooper (Sacred Heart College, Auckland)
Blake Cooper has made a name for himself as a fierce sweep rower, especially in the pair. Since starting rowing in 2022, he has consistently featured in Sacred Heart’s top crews. In his novice season, he was part of Sacred Heart’s winning novice four and eight, clocking an impressive 6:14 in the latter. That same year, he stepped up to race in the U18 eight, finishing seventh in the A-final, a huge leap that speaks to his maturity and potential.
Blake diversified in his second season, racing at the New Zealand Club Nationals where he placed fourth in the men’s club eight. At Maadi, he again made A-finals in U17 events, and later earned selection to the Auckland provincial team, where he won the U20 quad and earned silver in both the mixed eight and the open eight, displaying strong sculling and sweep skills. Blake formed a formidable partnership with George Marshall this year, placing second nationally in the U18 pair. He also medalled in the U18 eight and quad, rounding out a strong season. With significant experience in tight, high-stakes races, Blake’s technical finesse and versatility are invaluable to this crew.
George Marshall (Sacred Heart College, Auckland)
George Marshall has spent much of his career racing alongside Blake Cooper, and the pair’s chemistry will be crucial in the bow end of this eight. Like Blake, George started rowing in 2022 and quickly joined Sacred Heart’s top novice crews, winning gold in the novice eight and four.
He transitioned into club rowing in his second season, winning the men’s intermediate eight at Nationals. At Maadi, he came second in the U17 pair and raced competitively in the four and eight; that silver medal in the pair earned him selection for the North Island team at the North vs South event, where he won both his races. He also represented Auckland at the provincial level, matching Blake’s podium results. This year, George again raced with Blake in the U18 pair, securing silver, and was part of the school’s top four. A powerful sweep rower with a calm bow-seat presence, George’s blend of technical control and boat feel makes him a key cog in this lineup.
Coxswain – Eliza O’Meagher (Cashmere High School)
Eliza O’Meagher is a coxswain with a rare perspective, having started her career as a sculler. In her novice season, she raced the single, double, and quad, winning gold in the U16 girls’ quad at the Maadi Cup. This first-hand understanding of what it feels like to be a rower under pressure gives her a unique advantage as a cox.
Transitioning into coxing, Eliza didn’t leave rowing behind entirely. She continued racing in singles and doubles while beginning to steer crews at regional regattas, quickly demonstrating her tactical intelligence and voice under pressure. She coxed the girls’ U15 octuple to silver at South Islands and was soon given the reins of Cashmere High’s senior boats, even taking the helm in club-level premier events. Her experience grew rapidly, from coxing an open women’s quad and open eight to steering multiple medal-winning school crews. At this year’s Maadi, she coxed both the girls’ U18 and U17 quads to podium finishes, including gold in the U18 quad. Eliza has won gold at every Maadi she’s attended, either as a rower or coxswain, a proven winner and steady hand, now guiding this men’s eight through its toughest test yet.
Coach – Dale Maher
Leading this year’s men’s U19 eight is Dale Maher, a veteran coach with decades of experience and a deep legacy in New Zealand rowing. A former elite rower, Dale represented New Zealand at the 1986 Commonwealth Games, bringing with him first-hand knowledge of international racing and the demands of performing under pressure.
In recent years, Dale has become a cornerstone of Rowing New Zealand’s age-group high-performance system. He coached the U19 men’s eight in 2023, and in 2024 took charge of the U23 men’s four, demonstrating his trusted status within the national coaching ranks. Domestically, Dale has spearheaded the transformation of St Bede’s College into one of the country’s top sweeping programmes. His coaching was instrumental in guiding the school to a Maadi Cup victory and in disrupting the long-standing dominance of Hamilton Boys’ High School.
Dale is known for his technical sharpness and ability to mould competitive crews, bringing continuity and clarity to this campaign. His wealth of experience and calm authority will be crucial as this young eight aims to convert its domestic momentum into success on the world stage.
Overview
This year’s U19 men’s eight is a potent mix of returning experience and exciting new talent, backed by some of the country’s top school and club programmes. With solid combinations across both the stern and bow and guided by experienced coach Dale Maher and coxswain Eliza O’Meagher, the crew heads into the U19 World Rowing Championships with confidence and real medal potential.
Men’s Double Sculls
Nathan Strachan – Macleans College
Nathan Strachan began rowing in 2022, and although his early results were modest, missing A-finals at his first Maadi Cup, he’s since emerged as one of the country’s top young scullers. His breakthrough came in 2023, when he claimed silver in the intermediate single and gold in the intermediate double at the NZ Rowing Championships. He secured bronze in the fiercely contested U17 single at Maadi, along with a top-seven finish in the U18 coxed quad.
Nathan’s performances earned him selection for the North vs South regatta, where he impressed with a strong second-place finish in the U18 single and quad. That momentum continued into the provincial season, where he represented Auckland in the U20 quad and mixed eight, winning both, and came second in the men’s open coxed eight. 2024 has been a standout year. At North Island Club Champs, he medalled in the club single and double, later dominating the school season. At the North Islands, he won gold in the U18 singles and bronze in both the doubles and quads. At the Maadi Cup, he boldly decided to focus on the single, which paid off. In tough conditions, Nathan delivered a stunning performance to win gold in the U18 single, clocking a rapid 7:14.44. Now selected for the world stage, Nathan arrives in top form and appears to be peaking at exactly the right time.
Harry Lightfoot – Wakatipu High School
Harry Lightfoot’s rowing story is one of remarkable progression. In his early years, he was far from the spotlight; his novice season saw him place mid-pack at regional regattas and miss Maadi altogether. But by 2023, signs of improvement were clear, with podium finishes at club nationals in the intermediate quad.
However, it was in 2024 that Harry took a huge step forward. At South Island Secondary Schools, he stunned many by winning gold in the U17 double, silver in the U17 quad, and placing fifth in the single. He followed that up with an exceptional Maadi campaign, winning gold in both the U17 coxed quad and double. These performances led to his selection for the South Island team at North vs South, where he won the U18 quad and took silver in the double. His strong form continued at the interprovincial level, where he raced across multiple U20 and open events, regularly finishing near the top. In the 2024 summer season, Harry solidified his status as one of New Zealand’s fastest young scullers. At Canterbury Champs, he won the senior double, club double, U19 quad, and placed second in the club single, showing he could match and beat older, more experienced rowers. His dominance continued at South Island Secondary Schools, where he claimed an impressive trifecta: gold in the U18 single, double, and quad. At the Maadi Cup, he secured national titles in the double and quad and just missed the podium in the single.
Coach – Alice Denyer
The double is in excellent hands under the guidance of Alice Denyer, a coach with both international and domestic experience. A former rower herself, Denyer has coached in both the UK and New Zealand and has played a key role in developing national title-winning athletes. Known for her ability to build technically sharp, well-bonded crews, she brings a strategic presence to the crew. With both boys on similar upward performance trajectories and a shared resilience in their development, Denyer’s leadership could be the difference-maker in turning potential into results on the world stage.
Overview
Nathan Strachan and Harry Lightfoot represent one of the most exciting combinations in New Zealand’s U19 squad this year. Both athletes come into the campaign with humble beginnings and steady, upward performance curves, building season by season through hard work and standout school and club results. Their recent Maadi Cup performances and consistent success mark them as serious contenders in the double. Crucially, their trajectories align. Both are scullers with a proven ability to perform under pressure, and their selection reflects not just raw speed but a shared work ethic and hunger to improve. Under the expert guidance of coach Alice Denyer, this crew has the proper foundation of skill to take on the world’s best. With nothing to lose and everything to prove, Strachan and Lightfoot are poised to make their mark on the international stage in Lithuania.
