The NZ Rowing Championships are the pinnacle of the NZ club season, bringing together many months of effort and work. It also serves as one of two regattas that feature athletes from both islands.
The intermediate classification stands between novice and club, typically featuring rowers in their second season of racing. NZ Rowing Champs entries will be interesting to see, as this class can be used by schools for some of their younger rowers, especially in the North Island. This class typically has smaller numbers compared to club etc. so it can be very hard to judge the numbers of people entered.
Avon Rowing Club
The all round powerhouse of South Island rowing, Avon will undoubtedly be entering crews in this class. Whilst not known for focusing on intermediate, two gold medals at South Island Club Champs in the coxed four and the coxed quad makes it likely that Avon will want to turn those into Nationals golds this year. The coxed four of Didier Marx, Corbin Newlands, Cameron Abel, Theodore Thomas, and cox Grayson Faulkner won in a time of 6:56.88, just 0.07 seconds ahead of a strong U16 Christchurch Boys’ High School crew competing under the colours of Canterbury Rowing Club. The young U19s of Marx (Lincoln University), Abel (King’s College alumnus), Thomas (St Andrew’s College alumnus), and U20 Faulkner (Christchurch Boys’ alumnus), should they have Newlands in their Nationals lineup this week, have an Avon stalwart and lover of the game, having competed in seven Nationals previously from 2017 to 2023. Having taken a break in 2024 and 2025, Newlands will be right at home on a course he’s raced down many times before.
U19 Jackson Evans (St Andrew’s alumnus) replaced Didier in the stroke of the coxed quad, where the crew also picked up gold, two seconds ahead of Marlborough Boys’ College rowing under Wairau Rowing Club. Faulkner was replaced by U19 Eliza O’Meagher (Cashmere High School alumna), who competed in Lithuania last year in the World Rowing U19 Champs, coxing the NZ junior men’s coxed eight. Bringing international racing experience to a young intermediate crew is an invaluable opportunity for these rowers to learn in the beginning of their club racing career, especially if they are hoping to compete in club and senior grades in years to come.
Evans and Marx earned a respectable 5th place finish (7:22.49) in the double at South Islands and word of mouth hints at an Avon composite intermediate coxed eight entry…
The young group coming through Avon fresh out of school rowing allows them to spread through the field and create plenty of medal opportunities for this club who will be hoping to compete for the Centennial Oar (the top club across all events). Despite low numbers entered in previous regattas, there is the potential for more crews to be entered by Avon if they believe they have a better shot here than in other classes.
Waikato Rowing Club
A strong contender in the North Island I wouldn’t put it past Waikato to make an appearance in this class to try and show that they can compete in full squad dominance like Avon. A win in the double at North Island Champs in 7:58.09 shows us that Waikato isn’t ignoring this class and has the potential to do well on the Nationals stage. Again, as with Avon we may see the appearance of more crews at Nationals from some of the younger Waikato members.
Schools
Although it is unusual for schools to compete at Nationals due to the close proximity to NISS, SISS, and Maadi we have seen this before especially by schools close by. Being in Karāpiro this year we may see an appearance by some Auckland and Waikato schools looking for racing a couple weeks before NISS. King’s College being the winners of both the eight and the four at North Island Clubs it will be interesting to see whether they will make an appearance at this regatta. It would be highly unlikely to see any South Island schools make the trip. Other Auckland schools like Auckland Grammar and St Kentigern’s may also make an appearance following good results at the last regatta.
Predictions
Although Avon look set for gold, there’s always room for upset in the intermediate class, with outsiders in the form of composite crews and quick schoolboy crews looking for some racing experience before the sharp end of the school season in a month’s time. Expect to see the colours of Avon and Waikato on the podium this week but keep a look out for any school entries.
