Ben Taylor, Oli Welch and coach Mike Rodger Halberg Awards Finalists
Ben Taylor and Oli Welch have been named finalists for the ISPS HANDA Halberg Team of the Year Award, with their coach Mike Rodger also recognised as a finalist for the Buddle Findlay Coach of the Year Award.
The nominations follow an outstanding season on the world stage. Ben and Oli claimed gold in the men’s pair at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai, China - the pinnacle event for rowing in 2025. They also secured silver at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne and gold at the World Rowing Cup in Varese.
Their world championship victory created lasting ripples across New Zealand rowing. Both athletes hail from Avon Rowing Club in Christchurch and only rowed together in the pair from the start of the year, making their rise to world champions in under 12 months a remarkable achievement. In doing so, they became the first New Zealand men’s pair to win gold at a world championship-level pinnacle event since Hamish Bond and Eric Murray’s historic victory at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Just two days after their world title, Ben and Oli made further history by winning bronze in the first-ever Mixed Eight event, adding another milestone to an already extraordinary campaign.
Coach Mike Rodger continues to demonstrate his ability to develop world-class crews, having coached medal-winning boats at every pinnacle event since 2019. At the Paris Olympic Games, he guided both the men’s four and women’s single to silver medals, before leading Ben and Oli to world championship gold in the men’s pair in 2025.
The 63rd Halberg Award winners will be announced on Monday, February 16 at Auckland’s Spark Arena. The awards will be broadcast free-to-air from 8pm on Sky Open and Sky Sport.
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Ben Taylor, Oli Welch and coach Mike Rodger Halberg Awards Finalists
Ben Taylor and Oli Welch have been named finalists for the ISPS HANDA Halberg Team of the Year Award, with their coach Mike Rodger also recognised as a finalist for the Buddle Findlay Coach of the Year Award.
The nominations follow an outstanding season on the world stage. Ben and Oli claimed gold in the men’s pair at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai, China - the pinnacle event for rowing in 2025. They also secured silver at the World Rowing Cup in Lucerne and gold at the World Rowing Cup in Varese.
Their world championship victory created lasting ripples across New Zealand rowing. Both athletes hail from Avon Rowing Club in Christchurch and only rowed together in the pair from the start of the year, making their rise to world champions in under 12 months a remarkable achievement. In doing so, they became the first New Zealand men’s pair to win gold at a world championship-level pinnacle event since Hamish Bond and Eric Murray’s historic victory at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Just two days after their world title, Ben and Oli made further history by winning bronze in the first-ever Mixed Eight event, adding another milestone to an already extraordinary campaign.
Coach Mike Rodger continues to demonstrate his ability to develop world-class crews, having coached medal-winning boats at every pinnacle event since 2019. At the Paris Olympic Games, he guided both the men’s four and women’s single to silver medals, before leading Ben and Oli to world championship gold in the men’s pair in 2025.
The 63rd Halberg Award winners will be announced on Monday, February 16 at Auckland’s Spark Arena. The awards will be broadcast free-to-air from 8pm on Sky Open and Sky Sport.
