Image Credit: World Rowing
St Bede’s – Men’s Novice Four
St Bede’s has built one of the strongest sweep programmes in the country over recent seasons, highlighted by consistent podium finishes at the Maadi Cup. Their approach is strongly pathway-based, with novices viewed as the foundation of future senior crews rather than a separate group. Athletes are developed collectively, with an emphasis on progression rather than short-term results. That philosophy is already evident in this group.
This crew has raced only once so far in the four and delivered a decisive performance, winning the men’s novice four by 14 seconds over Ashburton. The remainder of the field was widely spread, with the last-place finisher completing the course over nine minutes, underlining just how fast St Bede’s were relative to their competition. What strengthens their case further is their performance across multiple boat classes. At the same regatta, this same combination claimed two more victories. In the novice coxed quad, they won by a single second, and they also dominated the novice eight by 24 seconds. These results show that this crew is capable of both executing under pressure and maintaining authority when setting the pace.
Auckland Grammar – Men’s Intermediate Eight
Auckland Grammar operates under a rigorous training programme that places a strong emphasis on physical conditioning. Their athletes are pushed hard, with weekly ergometer testing and substantial running volumes. A significant portion of their training is done off the water, which means that when they do get on the water, sessions are highly efficient and underpinned by a strong fitness base. This approach allows them to race with confidence.
This season, Auckland Grammar has been patient. Rather than racing early at the Memorial Regatta, they chose to prioritise building a solid pre-season base. The goal was to arrive at the racing season fully prepared rather than chasing early results. That decision paid off when they made their first appearance at the Karapiro Club Regatta, where they won the men’s intermediate eight, beating Sacred Heart by two seconds in a time of 6:34 under relatively harsh conditions. At the same regatta, members of their stern four also raced in the men’s intermediate four, finishing fourth in a very tight race where the podium was closely contested. Further evidence of this depth came through individual athletes such as Guy Smith and Xinhao Zhang, who also competed in the men’s open eight.
At the Karapiro Christmas Regatta, the crew faced what will likely be their biggest rivals this season, King’s College. In the men’s intermediate eight, Auckland Grammar were beaten by seven seconds in the heat. However, a notable result came from the second Auckland Grammar crew, who were faster than the first crew by just two-tenths of a second. The first crew recorded a time of 6:25.76, while the second crew crossed the line in 6:25.50. In the final, Auckland Grammar’s first crew finished second, approximately two seconds behind King’s College. While they did not take the win, the result showed a clear closing of the gap on the King’s crew. The second Auckland Grammar eight also finished fourth, remaining well within striking distance of the podium and reinforcing the competitiveness of both boats.
I have selected Auckland Grammar as a crew to watch because of its depth and trajectory. They were one of only two schools to enter multiple intermediate eights, and their second crew was able to beat the top boats of most other schools. With summer training still to come and inevitable seat racing ahead, it will be interesting to see whether a final combination can be found that closes the remaining gap to King’s College.
Waikato Rowing Club – Men’s Club Quad
The Waikato men’s club quad is, for me, one of the standout crews to watch this season, and their results are already backing that up. What makes this crew particularly interesting is not just their speed, but the combination of individual backgrounds and how those profiles have come together in a single boat.
In recent years, New Zealand rowing has shifted away from the Rowing Performance Centre (RPC) system. Historically, RPCs existed across various regions, examples include Auckland, Waikato, and Canterbury, serving as hubs where top athletes and coaches trained together in preparation for national selection. While the official structure no longer exists, an informal version of this system has begun to re-emerge. Large clubs such as Avon in Canterbury, Dunstan in Central Otago, and Waikato are increasingly functioning as regional performance hubs. Athletes are now relocating away from their home clubs to train in environments that offer the strongest coaching and competition. This Waikato quad is a clear example of that trend.
Firstly, Alex Laurenson. Laurenson brings extensive small-boat experience from Auckland Rowing Club. He has raced predominantly in open and U22 events, including the open single, double, and pair. Laurenson has consistently been racing mid-pack in A-finals at the open and senior level, which is exceptionally difficult and speaks to his race competence. Crue Ellis adds a very different but equally valuable dimension. After schooling in Waikato, he spent last season rowing for West End, where he won the men’s intermediate quad. He is a physically imposing athlete with a large frame and substantial ergometer numbers, providing significant power to the boat. After taking time away from rowing post–high school, he returned and this season earned selection into the Waikato men’s open eight, even stroking the crew. Harrison McClintock brings both pedigree and endurance. Like Ellis, he took time away from the sport, but his school rowing record at St Peter’s Cambridge is highly impressive. He was selected for the North versus South Island team, placing him among the top U17 and U18 rowers in the country. In his final school season, he won the U17 quad at the Maadi Regatta and finished second in the U17 single. At the North Island Secondary Schools Championships, he also won the U17 double. Beyond rowing, McClintock competes in ultra-marathons, which provides him with an exceptional aerobic base and mental resilience that directly translates into his racing performance.
The bow seat selection has been one of the most interesting aspects of this crew. There has been debate over whether to select GedWall or Finley Taylor-Gill, both of whom bring very different strengths. Ged Wall, a former Waikato performance hub athlete originally from Ashburton, has a strong sculling background and extensive experience racing at the premier level. He has competed in high-quality quads alongside athletes such as Oscar Ruston and Joshua Vodanovich and was selected for the U21 Trans-Tasman team. He also raced for Otago University and is known for strong 2k and 5k erg performances. Finley Taylor-Gill, on the other hand, brings freshness. A recent school leaver, he has primarily raced the single and quad and has made a strong transition into club rowing. This season, he has raced successfully with McClintock in the intermediate double, winning the event at the Christmas Regatta, and has also contributed to the club quad. His development curve is steep, and his inclusion adds upward potential to the crew.
As a unit, this crew has not been beaten so far this season. Their most impressive performance came at the Christmas Regatta, where they recorded a time of 6:08, a speedy result for a club quad. With further seat racing and refinement, the combination could become even faster. If conditions align, it would not be surprising to see this crew threaten the six-minute barrier later in the season.
Avon Rowing Club – Men’s Senior Pair
This crew should not be viewed purely as a “crew to watch” based on performance. Instead, it should be seen from a selection perspective. Avon’s senior men’s squad is deep this year; in fact, the club has grown to the point where it has reached capacity, prompting a formal selection process simply to gain entry. That alone is highly unusual and speaks volumes about the calibre of athletes training out of Avon. Part of the reason for this restriction is logistical. Avon Rowing Club trains on the Avon River, a narrow stretch of water running through central Christchurch, with sections only ten to 20 metres wide. On busy weekends, particularly when school crews are also training, space becomes extremely limited.
For Avon, early-season racing is less about results and more about testing combinations. Their focus is on building the fastest possible line-ups ahead of the Rowing New Zealand Championships. This approach was straightforward at the Meridian Regatta, which effectively served as a live seat race. The men’s senior pair event was dominated by Avon crews across all lanes.
The fastest combination on the day was Sam Wilson and Scott Shackleton. Wilson, originally from Timaru, was primarily a sculler during his school years before transitioning into both sweep and sculling at the senior level. His record is extensive. In the club scene, he has won the men’s senior four and senior eight events, finished second in the men’s premier quad, won the premier eight event, placed third in the U22 pair, and competed at Henley Royal Regatta. Shackleton, by contrast, has flown slightly under the radar in recent seasons, but his pedigree is undeniable. As a schoolboy, he was a standout; a highlight was winning four gold medals at a single Maadi Regatta. Since transitioning to club rowing, he has accumulated a series of second-place finishes at national championships across the senior double, premier eight, senior eight, and premier quad, but has yet to secure a national title in the club scene. This season, however, he appears to be in peak form, suggesting he is poised for a breakthrough year.
Avon’s internal competition is relentless, driven by the ultimate goal of securing a place in the senior and premier eight. Having won the premier eight last year, the standard required to make the top boat is exceptionally high. The squad includes rowers with recent elite and U23 international experience, Henley Royal Regatta exposure, and multiple national titles across senior and premier boat classes. There are also Red Coat winners, Maadi Cup champions, and several current and former New Zealand age-group representatives.
With this level of depth, every race Avon enters becomes an internal trial. Watching which pairings are trialled and how margins shift over the season will be just as interesting as the final results themselves.
