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Crews race side-by-side in true Anzac style
Our U19 Men’s Eight gets a Worlds warm-up to remember
No one would have noticed out on the race track at Royal Canadian Henley except a few New Zealanders and Australians in the know.
Two eights going stroke for stroke over a series of 250m pieces a day out from racing begins at the combined Senior, Under 23 and Under 19 World Championships in St Catharine’s, Ontario.
Coaches Logan Keys and Australian John Bowes ran their respective crews together at Princeton in the leadup to the 2019 World Champs in Sarasota, Florida, and so they thought why not help each other out again.
It was a cool sight. The New Zealand Under 19 Eight getting some real time racing alongside John’s Under 23 Men’s Eight.
A one-on-one win-win.
“They're young juniors,” says Logan. “So, it’s just getting them straight into the mode of world champs and getting them to understand the standard before their first race.
“The New Zealand and Australian teams have the same challenges, always coming across on the other side of the world, so while we're strong rivals we have so much in common as well, so it's good we can line up and help each other go fast.”
And despite the age difference, both crews benefited.
“It gives you a gauge so you're not just chasing the clock,” says John. “Having a crew beside you doing similar work, being aware of them, but the focus is in your boat, you're actually doing race rehearsal stuff, so that’s what’s in it for us.”
The Australian boat went in after three. Logan and co-coach Sam Jackson kept the 19s out for a few more.
It’s an experience they won’t forget in a hurry.
Even the pre-row briefing was memorable. Logan, Sam and John thought it would be good to get both crews together before they got on the water.
Some of the 19s were left a bit in awe by the size of the 23s in green and gold, but that all disappeared in the moment an Aussie and Kiwi crew helped each other take on the world.
The Gassman
Ryan Gass can thank a commentator at Karapiro for his nickname.
“I've never been able to find out who it was,” says the former Macleans College sculler. “But he always commented on me coming down the track, ‘Here comes The Gas Man, here he comes’. I used to have this great sprint at the finish which I suppose is how that started.”
A few ‘Gas Man’ chants went up at this regatta as the 23s spare came down the course as the first New Zealand athlete to compete at these championships in the spares race.
Ryan Glass (AKA Gas man) racing in the 2024 U23 World Rowing Championships Reserve M1x event. Photo: Art of RoWING
Like Ben Taylor at the Olympics for the New Zealand sweep programme, you have to be prepared to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in for the good of the whole squad.
“It's good to be here. It's good to get the experience,” says Ryan. “I've been filling in with the Men's Quad and due to injury and sickness I've also had to go into the Men's Four and had to row a double with a few other guys.”
He finished second in his singles race behind a German sculler, and genuinely hopes that’s the end of his racing for the rest of the week, he’d hate for someone not to be able to take their place in the boat.
But he’s on it if required.
“I've just got to always be prepared, always warm up with everyone, come down to the water with everyone else, go back with everyone else. And that's what I'm ready to do.”
His parents aren’t here for this one. He’s hoping they will be next year.
AH: “What’s next year?”
“Poland,” says Ryan. “World Champs, I'm still eligible next year which is great, I'm aiming to make a crew, build on my experience from this year and improve.”
The Gas Man. A tank half-full, never half-empty guy.
Andy Hay
Andy Hay is a freelance producer, writer and rowing coach. He was cox of the world champion New Zealand eight of 1982 and '83. He is NZ Olympian #446.
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- Home
- /
- International Regattas
- /
- Crews race side-by-side...
Crews race side-by-side in true Anzac style
Our U19 Men’s Eight gets a Worlds warm-up to remember
No one would have noticed out on the race track at Royal Canadian Henley except a few New Zealanders and Australians in the know.
Two eights going stroke for stroke over a series of 250m pieces a day out from racing begins at the combined Senior, Under 23 and Under 19 World Championships in St Catharine’s, Ontario.
Coaches Logan Keys and Australian John Bowes ran their respective crews together at Princeton in the leadup to the 2019 World Champs in Sarasota, Florida, and so they thought why not help each other out again.
It was a cool sight. The New Zealand Under 19 Eight getting some real time racing alongside John’s Under 23 Men’s Eight.
A one-on-one win-win.
“They're young juniors,” says Logan. “So, it’s just getting them straight into the mode of world champs and getting them to understand the standard before their first race.
“The New Zealand and Australian teams have the same challenges, always coming across on the other side of the world, so while we're strong rivals we have so much in common as well, so it's good we can line up and help each other go fast.”
And despite the age difference, both crews benefited.
“It gives you a gauge so you're not just chasing the clock,” says John. “Having a crew beside you doing similar work, being aware of them, but the focus is in your boat, you're actually doing race rehearsal stuff, so that’s what’s in it for us.”
The Australian boat went in after three. Logan and co-coach Sam Jackson kept the 19s out for a few more.
It’s an experience they won’t forget in a hurry.
Even the pre-row briefing was memorable. Logan, Sam and John thought it would be good to get both crews together before they got on the water.
Some of the 19s were left a bit in awe by the size of the 23s in green and gold, but that all disappeared in the moment an Aussie and Kiwi crew helped each other take on the world.
The Gassman
Ryan Gass can thank a commentator at Karapiro for his nickname.
“I've never been able to find out who it was,” says the former Macleans College sculler. “But he always commented on me coming down the track, ‘Here comes The Gas Man, here he comes’. I used to have this great sprint at the finish which I suppose is how that started.”
A few ‘Gas Man’ chants went up at this regatta as the 23s spare came down the course as the first New Zealand athlete to compete at these championships in the spares race.
Ryan Glass (AKA Gas man) racing in the 2024 U23 World Rowing Championships Reserve M1x event. Photo: Art of RoWING
Like Ben Taylor at the Olympics for the New Zealand sweep programme, you have to be prepared to roll your sleeves up and get stuck in for the good of the whole squad.
“It's good to be here. It's good to get the experience,” says Ryan. “I've been filling in with the Men's Quad and due to injury and sickness I've also had to go into the Men's Four and had to row a double with a few other guys.”
He finished second in his singles race behind a German sculler, and genuinely hopes that’s the end of his racing for the rest of the week, he’d hate for someone not to be able to take their place in the boat.
But he’s on it if required.
“I've just got to always be prepared, always warm up with everyone, come down to the water with everyone else, go back with everyone else. And that's what I'm ready to do.”
His parents aren’t here for this one. He’s hoping they will be next year.
AH: “What’s next year?”
“Poland,” says Ryan. “World Champs, I'm still eligible next year which is great, I'm aiming to make a crew, build on my experience from this year and improve.”
The Gas Man. A tank half-full, never half-empty guy.
Andy Hay
Andy Hay is a freelance producer, writer and rowing coach. He was cox of the world champion New Zealand eight of 1982 and '83. He is NZ Olympian #446.
