This article was written prior to the release of the entry draw due to the late release of supplementary entries.
They have put in the work over the off-season and have slogged away for the first few months of their U18 season, but who will take out Boys’ U18 Single Scull at this season’s Christmas Regatta? The Christmas Regatta always provides a great benchmark for the season, and this will be the same for one of the flagship events of schoolboy rowing. So, who will earn their Christmas lunch and who will have some work to do over the Christmas break? It is time to find your rhythm in the ever-defining U18 Single Scull.
Adam Albert-May – Whakatane Rowing Club / Whakatane High School
Is there a school/club more synonymous with boys’ sculling than Whakatane Rowing Club / Whakatane High School? The Jenkins family dominated sculling events in the yellow and black colours of Whakatane for the better part of a decade, and there might just be a new name looking to etch his way into Whakatane rowing folklore: Adam Albert-May. As a U17 sculler, Albert-May will be looking to have a crack at the U18 Single this year too. Under the guidance of Gary McAdams, he is looking to continue his strong start at the recent Club Regatta and transfer that speed to the Christmas Regatta. Competing in the U18 single, U18 double, Club Coxless four and Club eight, Albert-May made the A-Final in each of those events. Following on from an impressive U16 Maadi Regatta last season, I would love to see this young sculler out of Whakatane give the most prestigious singles race a real crack in 2025/2026. A frontrunner for the U17 single, he could surprise a few in the U18 single if his form is anything to go off.
Gus Weir and Tyler Tretheway – St Paul’s Collegiate Rowing Club
St Paul’s Collegiate Rowing Club have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to the U18 single for the 2025/2026 season. Gus Weir and Tyler Tretheway will both be battling it out in the U18 single throughout this season, starting at the Christmas Regatta. Charlie Rogerson and Bruce Jones have found themselves two sensational scullers to be mentoring throughout this season, guiding them both on this long road to Ruataniwha. At the recent Club Regatta, Weir took the victory from Tretheway, who finished third in the single. The duo then combined to win both the U18 double and the U18 quad. Following a very successful 2024/2025 season, in which they dominated the U17 double and quad, who will be taking the bragging rights in the smallest boat class? Despite having a weekend full of racing, I would imagine both scullers with St Paul’s row suits will be near the front of the pack come Sunday’s final.
Corin Brown – Tauranga Boys College Rowing Club
The second U17 sculler I would keep your eyes on is Corin Brown of Tauranga Boys College Rowing Club. Richard Gee and Nicola Austin have coached Brown thus far to a very strong start, moving up an age group. He has proved thus far that he can both scull and sweep, with a sensational showing at the Club Regatta in both the U18 single and U18 pair. Brown has sought to refine this technique and has gained some extra speed following a promising U16 season last year, already looking like a more proficient sculler than he was at the end of last season. As another individual who will, undoubtedly, have a very busy lead-up to the Christmas break, if Brown wants a crack at both the U17 and U18 single, he could certainly prove his worth.
Notable Mentions
Among the rest of the field, two more talented scullers could warrant the national selectors not to forget about them – Merleau Moons of Hamilton Rowing Club and another Tauranga sculler who had to unfortunately scratch his final at the Club Regatta: James Muir. Look out for these two as they make their way down the waters of Lake Karapiro throughout the Christmas Regatta.
Predictions
I believe the St Paul’s Collegiate row suits will be leading the field of the U18 single to round out 2025. I see Weir keeping his form and edging Tretheway in a hotly contested final. I’m predicting this final could have a blanket thrown over it as the eight crews reach the finish line on Sunday. Enjoy your Christmas lunch, scullers!
