As the racing season starts to roll again, it is time for the Australian University Games. This year, it promises to be host to some competitive racing, with the best of the best from across Australia’s universities coming head-to-head to battle it out. With some returning international and state athletes, the men’s doubles will surely produce fast races.
Newcastle University
One of two Newcastle University crews entered in the double, this combination of Kai Martin and Harrison Nichols might put some speed down. Harrison represented Australia in 2023 at the Belgrade World Rowing Championships in the PR3 mixed coxed four, just missing out on a podium finish. With the experience of a man of Harrison’s calibre in the boat, backed up by Kai, they are sure to be contenders for a top-three finish this year.
UTS Haberfield
An experienced crew, this UTS double has results to back them up. Mitchell Caponas and Mackenzie Thompson both have national titles, Caponas in the men’s club double and Thompson in the U23 men’s coxless four, and a recent victory in the U23 men’s solo at the Australian Beach Sprints National Championships. They look to be a strong combination going into this event.
The second UTS combination to be entered in this event, Nikolaus Mathur and Zachary Neal, look to be just as competitive as the other UTS double. With yet another small boat national champion in the boat in Nikolaus Mathur, with his victory in the lightweight men’s pair and his representation of New South Wales in the Penrith cup crew. There will surely be a fight between the two UTS crews, and seeing who comes out on top will be interesting.
Melbourne University
This double includes James Houghton, who won bronze in the men’s U3 coxless four and gold in the men’s U23 eight at the National Championships and represented Victoria at the Oceania regatta this year. James is a competitive state-level athlete who, together with Charlie White, makes up the Melbourne University crew, which will not go unnoticed on the water next week.
Adelaide University
Alex Williams and Igor Zarubin are two rising young athletes. Alex holds the National title in the U21 men’s coxless quad and secured a bronze for Australia at the U19 World Rowing Championships in St. Catharine’s, Canada, in the double in 2024. His doubles partner for the University Games, Igor Zarubin, is one of South Australia’s rising stars, and at only 19, he has very quickly made a name for himself representing South Australia on several occasions, recently coming third in the heavyweight men’s single at the Oceania regatta. These two will be two to watch.
Prediction
My prediction for the top three finishers this year in the men’s double sculls at the Australian University Games is as follows.
Rounding out the podium in third place are Newcastle University’s Martin and Nichols. With their level of experience, I would be surprised if they were not in the top three. Coming in second, UTS’ Caponas and Thompson, with Caponas’ history in the double and Thompson’s results in the four, it’s looking like they’re going to be up at the top of the field. Finally, my prediction for first place is Williams and Zarubin of Adelaide University. The results speak for themselves in this case, and I think it will be hard to stop them from taking the top spot this year.
