Image Credit: World Rowing
Men’s Single Scull – Logan Ullrich
Logan Ullrich entered Shanghai carrying strong momentum and rising credibility in the men’s single scull. A former Washington University athlete and Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist in the men’s coxless four, he shifted into the single this season and quickly proved competitive. His transition was highlighted by a breakthrough gold at World Rowing Cup III, where he surged from fifth in the final 500m to win in dramatic style. He also showed strength at Henley Royal Regatta before bowing to Dutch Olympian Melvin Twellaar in the semifinals. By the time Shanghai arrived, Ullrich was regarded as a serious contender, with expectations that he could match his raw power and growing race craft to deliver a world-class result.
The men’s single scull is arguably the most challenging field in rowing, and Ullrich faced a demanding regatta schedule, four races across six days. In his opening heat, he finished second, behind China’s Wei Han, which secured progression but signalled he would need to find more speed in the knockout stages. The quarterfinal provided a test of composure. Olympic medallist Yauheni Zalaty led early, and Romania’s Mihai Chiruta attacked hard. Ullrich settled into a controlled rhythm, resisting the temptation to overreact to mid-race surges, and moved confidently into second place by the halfway mark. Holding 34 strokes per minute, he stayed composed as others lifted, executing a disciplined plan to qualify for the semifinals. It was a mature, tactical performance highlighting his fitness and growing ability to read a race.
The final stages of the regatta proved more challenging. Against the top tier of scullers, Ullrich could not break into the A-final and ultimately raced the B-final, finishing third in 6:58.55. That result ranked him ninth overall, creditable for his first World Rowing Championships campaign in the single, but short of the podium ambitions he carried in.
Given his pre-event momentum, Ullrich may have hoped for a higher finish, yet a top-ten result in his first World Championship as a single sculler shows genuine promise. He demonstrated tactical growth and composure under pressure, confirming he belongs in the world’s elite field. The challenge now is consistency against the very best; if he can refine his mid-race pace while retaining his proven sprint, he remains a serious medal threat moving forward.
Men’s Double Scull – Ben Mason and Finn Hamill
The men’s double scull pairing of Ben Mason and Finn Hamill was one of Rowing NZ’s most intriguing new combinations heading into Shanghai. Formed after the 2025 New Zealand National Championships in Twizel, they quickly proved they could compete internationally. Their early campaign included a bronze medal at the World Rowing Cup in Varese and a silver in Lucerne, where they missed gold by just 0.05 seconds to the seasoned Serbian crew of Nikolaj Pimenov and Martin Mackovic. Hamill made his name larger this year at Henley Royal Regatta by defeating Olympic champion Ollie Zeidler in The Diamond Challenge Sculls before narrowly missing the title. Nonetheless, the pairing entered their crew at the same regatta where they claimed The Double Sculls Challenge Cup, adding momentum to a strong debut season. With that run of results, expectations were high that the new pairing could carry their form into their first World Rowing Championships as a duo.
Their campaign began solidly, though once again Serbia stood in their way. Mason and Hamill finished second to their familiar rivals in the heat, trailing by just over a length but confirming they were still well within reach. The semifinal brought the real test. Against a stacked field including Poland, Switzerland, Belgium and Australia, the Kiwis could not find the second-half speed that had been their trademark through the season. Serbia controlled the race from the outset, and Mason and Hamill struggled to lift their rhythm in the back end, eventually finishing fourth in 6:40.23. Their assessment pointed to technical cohesion, “keeping the boat light”, as the missing piece, with the combination feeling just a touch heavy and unable to translate power into boat speed.
That result left them in the B-final, where they regrouped well to deliver a strong race, finishing second in 6:22.08. It was not the final they had targeted, but the performance showed resilience and the ability to rebound after disappointment.
Given their pre-event momentum, a B-final finish will feel short of expectations. Yet, in their first year together, Mason and Hamill have already collected medals on the World Rowing Cup circuit and shown they can challenge the very best. The raw speed is clearly there if they can sharpen their togetherness under pressure. This regatta was more of a learning curve than a crowning moment, but it positions them well for future campaigns.
Men’s coxless pair – Ben Taylor and Oliver Welch
The men’s coxless pair of Ben Taylor and Oliver Welch was a fresh combination that quickly earned attention. The two first linked up at the 2025 Rowing NZ Nationals in Twizel, racing for Avon Rowing Club, where they won decisively. They then stepped onto the international stage with immediate success, going unbeaten at their first World Rowing Cup outing. A narrow loss to Romania in their second World Rowing Cup regatta reinforced their potential and created a new rivalry. With time to reset and train, they arrived in Shanghai, viewed as genuine contenders for the world title, aiming to continue New Zealand’s proud tradition in the pair established by Eric Murray and Hamish Bond.
Taylor and Welch opened their campaign in style. In their heat, they secured qualification and set the fastest time across all heats, clocking 6:16.60, improving their earlier season best. Their composure stood out as they controlled the race early, steadily extending their margin over South Africa. It was a performance that gave them confidence.
The semifinal brought a stiffer challenge, but the New Zealand pair delivered again. They led against a quality field that included Spain and never relinquished control. Variable wind conditions made the race difficult, yet Taylor and Welch showed adaptability, covering the expected late sprint from the Spaniards with enough in reserve to take the win and advance to the A-final.
In the final, the pair produced their defining performance of the season. They established a lead over the reigning European champions, Romania, from the opening strokes and never looked back. Their rhythm was described as “bulletproof,” and by the 1000m mark, they had extended their advantage to a full length. The feared Romanian push never arrived, and New Zealand crossed the line in 6:37.87, comfortably ahead of Romania and Switzerland. It was a commanding gold medal performance that capped a rapid rise from domestic debutants to world champions in less than a year.
Taylor and Welch fully delivered on their pre-event promise and more. Their progression from national champions to unbeaten World Rowing Cup winners and then to world champions underscores both their raw talent and capacity to rise on the big stage. Still early in their partnership, they have already joined the lineage of great New Zealand pairs, and their Shanghai triumph signals the beginning of a crew with the potential to dominate for years to come.
Women’s Coxless Four – Alana Sherman, Isla Blake, Rebecca Leigh and Juliette Lequeux
The women’s four entered Shanghai carrying good momentum after a strong winter block together in New Zealand. While still a relatively new combination, they had already shown encouraging signs, finishing fourth at their first World Rowing Cup outing and stepping onto the podium with bronze in Lucerne. That upward trajectory suggested a crew learning quickly how to gel, with growing technical cohesion and confidence against the world’s best.
Their racing in Shanghai reflected that development. New Zealand demonstrated composure under pressure in the heats, holding contact with the experienced Australians before executing a decisive move in the third 500m. By the closing stages, they raced with control, finishing strongly to claim the win and automatic progression to the A-final. That result underlined their ability to respond mid-race and put the Australians under enough pressure that they missed the final altogether, an early psychological edge.
The A-final proved a sterner examination, with the reigning world leaders, USA, setting the pace and Romania maintaining relentless pressure through the middle stages. New Zealand stayed disciplined, sitting within striking distance and refusing to be dropped. Coming into the final 500m, they were locked in a three-way fight for medals, and a composed push saw them secure third place in 6:31.11. It was a tight finish, just seconds covering the podium, and a clear indication that this crew belongs in the medal conversation at the world level.
A bronze medal is a statement result for a crew in their first World Rowing Championship together. The combination showed improving boat speed against world-class opposition. While they are not yet at the level of the USA or Romania, the trajectory remains steeply upward. On balance, the women’s four lived up to expectations and became a genuine podium threat heading into future campaigns.
Women’s Coxless Quad – Veronica Wall, Kathryn Glen, Ella Cossil and Stella Clayton-Greene
On paper, this was a highly promising crew. Glen and Clayton-Greene combined successfully in the women’s double, while Cossill was also contesting the same events in the double with a different partner. Wall, though new to the international circuit this year, brought strong domestic results and was trusted with the stroke seat to unify the line-up. The main question was how quickly this combination could find rhythm, given they had never raced together as a quad before the World Rowing Championships. With half the crew having raced in the United States system and all four carrying solid sculling credentials, expectations were tempered but optimistic: plenty of raw talent, but untested as a unit.
Their performance in Shanghai suggested the potential is real. New Zealand started conservatively in the heats, sitting fourth through the early stages before gradually moving into the race. The middle 1000m was where the boat found its identity, chipping away at the leaders and finishing third behind the Netherlands and Germany. The composed row gave them direct entry into the A-final and highlighted areas to refine, particularly their tentative start. Wall’s composure in the stroke seat stood out, bringing calm and clarity to a crew still finding its feet.
In the A-final, New Zealand again displayed grit but lacked the polish of the established medal contenders. The Dutch set the benchmark with a commanding win, while New Zealand held form to finish fifth in 6:47.90. For a crew assembled late in the season, the result was more about building confidence than chasing medals, and they emerged with proof that they can compete on the world stage.
This was a credible debut for a brand-new line-up. While not yet a podium threat, the quad showed the beginnings of real cohesion. Fifth in the world is a strong foundation, and if the crew is kept together, they have the technical ability and race intelligence to climb further up the rankings. For now, they exceeded immediate expectations and left Shanghai with a clear pathway for growth.
Men’s Coxless Four – Flynn Watson, Zach Rumble, Campbell Crouch and Matt Dunham
The four’s campaign was disrupted just six weeks before the World Rowing Championships when Joshua Vodanovich was forced to withdraw due to medical reasons. His replacement, lightweight sculling veteran Matt Dunham, was an unexpected but inspired choice. A former world medallist in the single and more recently active in coastal rowing, Dunham brought experience and race awareness that few could match. Heading into Shanghai, the crew’s season had been steady sixth in the A-final at their first World Rowing Cup, followed by a B-final win at the next, but their ceiling was unclear.
The heat provided early encouragement. Facing European champions Romania, New Zealand settled into a strong rhythm after a cautious start, moving into second place by halfway and holding it through the line. The boat looked sharper and more composed than earlier in the season, with Dunham’s composure in the bow added tactical energy.
The semifinal was their defining performance. The crew showed resilience against Romania, Lithuania, France, and Italy, arguably the deepest field of the regatta. Despite being down at the 500m, they surged through the middle of the race to sit in a qualifying position with 500m to go. They looked set to make the A-final for much of the last stretch, only to be edged out by a late burst from the European crews. Their fourth-place finish in 5:57.94 was a strong performance, but left them just outside the medal race.
In the B-final, New Zealand backed up their effort with another composed race, finishing second behind Croatia’s Sinkovic brothers in 6:04.24.
Given the late crew change, this was an impressive campaign. While they ultimately fell short of the A-final, their semifinal performance proved they can be competitive at the top level. A B-final silver against world-class opposition was a fair return, and the crew leaves Shanghai with credibility restored and momentum to build on.
Mixed Double Scull – Ben Mason and Kathryn Glen
Introducing mixed boat classes at this year’s World Rowing Championships added intrigue and allowed New Zealand to showcase two standout scullers in the mixed double. Kathryn Glen has been one of the country’s most versatile performers domestically, winning the premier single scull, double, and silver in the quad at this year’s Rowing New Zealand Nationals. While her international season in the double had been mixed, she consistently made finals and added experience through events such as the Henley Royal Regatta. Ben Mason is racing this season with Finn Hamill; he picked up podiums on the World Rowing Cup circuit and a win at Henley Royal Regatta. Glen and Mason brought strong domestic pedigree and international exposure, making their partnership one of the most anticipated combinations for the new event.
Their heat presented a stern test, as they lined up against Ireland, Switzerland, and Italy, all with established pedigrees in sculling boats. New Zealand struggled to match the pace of the top three crews, crossing fifth in 6:48.90. The margin showed the fine lines at this level; they lacked the top-end speed to challenge for direct progression.
In the B-final, the crew sharpened their execution. Sitting in contention throughout, they pushed the USA and held off Lithuania and Germany to secure second place in 6:48.19, a marked improvement on their heat. The performance reflected a growing rhythm as a combination, particularly given the experimental nature of the event and limited preparation time.
This campaign should be viewed as a promising first step rather than a disappointment. Glen and Mason showed glimpses of their quality, especially in the B-final, where their composure under pressure was evident. While they were outside of medal contention, their ability to adapt quickly suggests the Mixed Double could become a competitive option for New Zealand if the class develops further. For now, they proved themselves capable of mixing it at the international level in a brand-new event.
Mixed Eight – Sherman, Blake, Leigh, Lequeux, Taylor, Welch, Watson, Crouch and Molloy
The New Zealand mixed eight entered Shanghai with minimal preparation, having completed only two training rows together. Despite this, the crew reported the boat “feeling really good,” with Ben Taylor noting that sometimes it’s best to preserve momentum rather than overthink technique.
The heat proved a wake-up call. Facing Romania, Italy, and other top crews, New Zealand initially struggled to find rhythm and cohesion, finishing outside the automatic qualifying spots. The limited time together showed in their start and transitions, as the crew was a few strokes short of optimal swing and synchronisation, and they could not match the early pace. Cox Harry Molloy described the heat as “a bit of a shocker,” but it provided critical insight into adjusting strategy and settling the boat before the final.
In the final, the crew applied those lessons perfectly. They went off aggressively, laying a strong foundation in the first 500 metres and maintaining high intensity throughout. Romania led from start to finish, Italy held second, and New Zealand surged into medal contention to claim bronze in 5:41.06. All rowers kept stroke rates above 40 spm and held composure despite fatigue from other events earlier in the regatta.
Bronze in the first-ever mixed eight at a World Rowing Championships is a substantial achievement, particularly given the crew’s minimal preparation. The heat-exposed areas for adjustment, which they successfully addressed in the final. New Zealand has demonstrated it can compete in this new boat class with composure, cohesion, and tactical awareness, marking future mixed events.
