This article was written prior to the release of the day sheet.
As always, the novice events always seem to be won by the crew that manages to keep cool heads and execute a simple race plan with minimal errors. With this in mind, this year’s novice events are set to deliver close finishes with every possibility for some upsets along the way. With what looks like only school entries at South Island and North Island Club Champs, entries will be skewed heavily towards North Island schools who benefit from the proximity to Karāpiro.
Men’s Coxless Double
As the only ‘small’ boat in the novice category, this is always an entertaining watch with a wide range of abilities throughout the field. The competition in this event looks to be coming mainly from the South Island, with the likes of Whakatipu Rowing Club and Timaru Boys’ High School poised to fight it out for a national title with three seconds between them – anyone’s race, especially at the novice level. However, the crew out of Auckland Grammar School will look to challenge this view after winning the event at NICC by seven seconds, ahead of Hawke’s Bay Rowing Club and three seconds off them, Hauraki Plains Rowing Club.
Men’s Coxed Quad
A reasonably hotly contested event at NICC, this looks to have several crews able to claim this title, setting this event up to be one to watch. After winning by three seconds over Clifton Rowing Club, with Tauranga Rowing Club and Cambridge Rowing Club not far behind, Aramoho Whanganui will look to carry this speed onto the national stage. Although they will have the likes of Wānaka Rowing Club, racing down seven seconds ahead of St Bede’s College, to contend with, who will also look to fight for a national title.
Men’s Coxed Four
As we move to sweep events, some big names appear as they look to develop athletes to carry on their winning ways down the line. From the North Island, a high-performing King’s College, eight seconds ahead of St John’s College Hamilton, has led from the front in this event and will be eager to carry on their winning reputation. Especially with their #2 crew rounding out the top three. Coming out of the South Island, St Bede’s and Christ’s College with three seconds between them, provide a strong challenge to these crews, and the winner will likely be a result of who can most cleanly execute on the day.
Men’s Coxed Eight
Christ’s College and St Bede’s will make their way up north, knowing they are the clear favourites from the South Island. Based on times, Christ’s appear to be the favourites by seven seconds and will need to get past the challenge laid by the North Island before they even look at claiming first place. Similar to the South Island, King’s College and Auckland Grammar School with one second between them, emerge as the only crews that would be able to challenge the previously mentioned top two South Island crews. Expect this event to be a very good one to watch.
Predictions
The North Island crews will dominate this year with the racing taking place in their domain, and plenty of novice schoolboy crews from nearby will be entered to further their experience in their first season of racing. With NICC abandoned due to weather conditions, finals day will be anyone’s race, especially with the last-minute row-throughs and crabs common in novice racing.
In the sweeping events look out for King’s College Rowing Club, Auckland Grammar Rowing Club, Waikato Rowing Club (St John’s College Hamilton), Clifton Rowing Club, and Tauranga Boys’ College Rowing Club.
In the sculling; Aramoho Whanganui Rowing Club, Clifton Rowing Club, Tauranga Boys’ College Rowing Club, Cambridge Rowing Club, Auckland Grammar Rowing Club, Hawke’s Bay Rowing Club, Hauraki Plains, and Rotorua Rowing Club.
