Conquering the conditions the way to win gold
In one way or another, the winning crews, found a way to adjust to the wind and water.
Home for Rob Hamill is the 43-footer ‘The Cruising Kiwis on YouTube'.
Home is currently moored in Cape Town, South Africa.
Rob would normally be at home right now but by some bizarre coincidence he got an offer to do a paid speaking gig in Queenstown to talk about his famous family sailing adventures.
“I haven't done a single speaking gig back here since Covid,” says Rob. “I just got this random inquiry from an Australian company. So here I am. There's no way I'd have been here otherwise.”
That bizarre coincidence allowed him the opportunity to come and see son Finn row the final of the Premier Men’s Single on day four of the New Zealand Rowing Championships at Lake Ruataniwha.
Finn’s spent the last couple of months in Tauranga training in Coastal and Classic boats out of Gary Reid’s informal club on the Wairoa River.
Coastal conditions delayed the start of today’s final. Rob got an urgent call to take food and warm clothes up to the start while the hour-long delay ticked by.
Next thing he was back in front of the finish watching one of the greatest sculling battles seen on Ruataniwha.
Robbie Manson. Finn Hamill.
“The conditions were tough,” says Robbie. “But I guess the two of us handled them the best. I nearly tipped at the start, had a good first five strokes, got the jump, and then almost went in so I ended up a couple of lengths back, so yeah, it was a battle from there."
Virtually inseparable. Move, counter-move.
Right to the line. The day to dig deepest.
Hamill 7.24.15. Manson 7.24.79. Epic.
“Everyone one can go to a point where you just can’t do anymore and I definitely reached that today, those last five strokes I just had nothing left,” says Finn.
At home in Cape Town, on the 43-footer, the rest of the Hamill family were watching the Milford Livestream. Must have been meant to be.
Finn Hamill and Robbie Manson battling it out in the Men's Premier Single Sculls A Final at the 2025 NZ Rowing Championships. Photo: Sharron Bennett Photography
Avon won the Boss Hen for the Senior Women’s Four. They were on the good side of a lane reshuffle, which suited two-seat Phoebe Collier just fine.
“We ended up jumping into lane one and oh, I can’t even describe how stoked I was,” says Phoebe. “I’ve never raced in lane one before and I swear it always lane one in races, especially Karapiro, that come out of nowhere, oh I was just so happy.”
Avon's Senior Women’s Four celebrating with the Boss Hen after winning their A Final at the 2025 NZ Rowing Championships. Photo: Picture Show Ltd.
Just a week ago Isla Blake was set to row the Women's Premier Pair with Juliette Alm-Lequeux. A bike accident on the way home from training left Juliette with concussion and a broken nose and having to pull out. That brought about a re-union for Isla and Alana Sherman, who finished fourth in the event two years ago.
It was a far better result today, the old Waikato combo staking new territory with a win, crossing in 8.10.20, ahead of Isabel Eliadis-Watson and Katie Lush 8.13.51.
Avon’s Kathryn Glen made the most of her lane draw in the Women’s Premier Single, to win in 8.29.38.
Although she might have expected to hear a bit more support as well, given her vicinity to the shoreline in Lane 1.
“I had no one cheering for me from what I could hear,” says Kathryn. “I was overshadowed by everyone cheering for good old Shannon [Cox] which is exciting but it was good motivation for the last 1k.”
First Red Coat moments are special. But this seemed even more cherished for the athlete who has been pushing for a long time.
Sophie Egnot-Johnson (8.32.28) generated a massive sprint to claim second ahead of a hugely disappointed Shannon Cox (8.32.33).
Today, there was no overshadowing the row of Kathryn Glen.
Kathryn Glen after winning the Women's Premier Single Sculls A Final and being awarded her first red coat. Photo: Sharron Bennett Photography
There were big hugs for coxswain Bella Murray after Avon absolutely squeaked in to beat Waikato and retain the hotly-contested Senior Eight title.
You might remember the refrain from the Covid years, “We go hard, and we go early.”
Bella was prepared to put her neck out.
“I could tell Waikato had a bit more in the tank so I decided to bring our sprint forward by maybe...200 metres...so we started working the gears with about 700 to go and I’m bloody thankful we did because I think it came down to those last five strokes, whatever we did I think the girls just gave it absolutely everything. I haven’t met a bunch of girls who wanted to win so much compared to these girls.”
So much close racing.
Avon 6.47.74. Waikato 6.47.81.
“In my bones I felt we had it,” says Bella. “I was constantly looking at Bradley, the other cox and I just felt when we went over the line I was moving forward so I figured and hoped but knew deep down we had it, and I’m bloody glad we did.”
Avon's Senior Women's Coxed eight after their A final win. Photo: Picture Show Ltd
Cure coxswain Annabelle Scott was also pretty happy, after their composite crew with Dunstan tipped over North Shore for third, the purple boat finishing in 6.57.99 for a first medal in the eight at this level.
It was another of those blazer-wearing displays on the dais for the Red and White.
A 1-2 in the Men’s Senior Four, Oliver Welch and Ben Taylor gold in the Men’s Premier Pair to name a few of the successes.
Veronica Wall was able to put the disappointment of a sixth-placed finish in the single to win the Premier Double with Kathryn Glen.
Robbie Manson also got up for a Red Coat victory in the Men's Premier Double with Oscar Ruston after his earlier battle with Finn in the single.
The first final
Pre-race chat from the coach:
“I said that I knew that they would deliver because they're really up for this race. I said, ‘You probably didn't know how to take me when you first came across me five and a half months ago. I was this grumpy dude with a whole lot of weird old man sayings that you finally embraced, I see that because you made a pair of socks for me with my favourite saying, Don't dilly dally’.
“I said, ‘I've given you a lot of critique, but none of it's been vindictive. It's all been constructive. I've praised you very rarely, but when I have praised you, I've meant it and I'm really proud of how you guys have come on, how you've taken to the training, turned up for every session. It's surprised me how committed you've been’.
“Then I said, ‘I'm actually quite a softy at heart. I get quite emotional and this is one of those times’.
“Well, I was looking at Kayla, who's our Scandinavian girl and she started to get weepy eyed, and then I looked around at all of them and they were all crying.”
“And I thought, ‘I've said enough. They're in the right frame of mind’.
“And that was it.”
- Olympic medallist and world champion in the men’s eight Barrie Mabbott
The race:
Russell Mills was getting wound up in the commentary box. He sensed the importance of the occasion, the first final of day in the Women’s Intermediate Four. The heart of club rowing.
Pete Mills’ Auckland crew bolted and shut the gate on everyone early on. Barrie’s North Shore crew worked, and then worked harder, to get into medal contention. At 1500 they built again and pushed into silver contention, bow to bow with Mercer. Barrie started running for the finish line. A guy who’s been to the top of world rowing buzzing as his junior crew put on the best race of their lives. Mercer snuck in for second just 0.04 ahead of the North Shore boat.
Everyone won.
The afterwards:
What do ya reckon coach: “Happy with that, very happy. Good end to the season for them in that boat. Really good. They rowed their little hearts out. Yep, very proud.”
No tears. Emotional? Just a bit.
North Shore’s “No Dilly Dallying” Intermediate Four, from left, Lily Dwyer, Kayla Paladin, Hamish Toogood, coach Barrie Mabbott, Georgia Thorpe, Izzy Karim. Picture: Andy Hay
At the end of day four Waikato Rowing Club and Avon Rowing Club are even in overall points.
Andy Hay
Andy Hay is a freelance producer, writer and rowing coach. He coxed New Zealand's world champion eight in 1982 and '83.
Share Story
Conquering the conditions the way to win gold
In one way or another, the winning crews, found a way to adjust to the wind and water.
Home for Rob Hamill is the 43-footer ‘The Cruising Kiwis on YouTube'.
Home is currently moored in Cape Town, South Africa.
Rob would normally be at home right now but by some bizarre coincidence he got an offer to do a paid speaking gig in Queenstown to talk about his famous family sailing adventures.
“I haven't done a single speaking gig back here since Covid,” says Rob. “I just got this random inquiry from an Australian company. So here I am. There's no way I'd have been here otherwise.”
That bizarre coincidence allowed him the opportunity to come and see son Finn row the final of the Premier Men’s Single on day four of the New Zealand Rowing Championships at Lake Ruataniwha.
Finn’s spent the last couple of months in Tauranga training in Coastal and Classic boats out of Gary Reid’s informal club on the Wairoa River.
Coastal conditions delayed the start of today’s final. Rob got an urgent call to take food and warm clothes up to the start while the hour-long delay ticked by.
Next thing he was back in front of the finish watching one of the greatest sculling battles seen on Ruataniwha.
Robbie Manson. Finn Hamill.
“The conditions were tough,” says Robbie. “But I guess the two of us handled them the best. I nearly tipped at the start, had a good first five strokes, got the jump, and then almost went in so I ended up a couple of lengths back, so yeah, it was a battle from there."
Virtually inseparable. Move, counter-move.
Right to the line. The day to dig deepest.
Hamill 7.24.15. Manson 7.24.79. Epic.
“Everyone one can go to a point where you just can’t do anymore and I definitely reached that today, those last five strokes I just had nothing left,” says Finn.
At home in Cape Town, on the 43-footer, the rest of the Hamill family were watching the Milford Livestream. Must have been meant to be.
Finn Hamill and Robbie Manson battling it out in the Men's Premier Single Sculls A Final at the 2025 NZ Rowing Championships. Photo: Sharron Bennett Photography
Avon won the Boss Hen for the Senior Women’s Four. They were on the good side of a lane reshuffle, which suited two-seat Phoebe Collier just fine.
“We ended up jumping into lane one and oh, I can’t even describe how stoked I was,” says Phoebe. “I’ve never raced in lane one before and I swear it always lane one in races, especially Karapiro, that come out of nowhere, oh I was just so happy.”
Avon's Senior Women’s Four celebrating with the Boss Hen after winning their A Final at the 2025 NZ Rowing Championships. Photo: Picture Show Ltd.
Just a week ago Isla Blake was set to row the Women's Premier Pair with Juliette Alm-Lequeux. A bike accident on the way home from training left Juliette with concussion and a broken nose and having to pull out. That brought about a re-union for Isla and Alana Sherman, who finished fourth in the event two years ago.
It was a far better result today, the old Waikato combo staking new territory with a win, crossing in 8.10.20, ahead of Isabel Eliadis-Watson and Katie Lush 8.13.51.
Avon’s Kathryn Glen made the most of her lane draw in the Women’s Premier Single, to win in 8.29.38.
Although she might have expected to hear a bit more support as well, given her vicinity to the shoreline in Lane 1.
“I had no one cheering for me from what I could hear,” says Kathryn. “I was overshadowed by everyone cheering for good old Shannon [Cox] which is exciting but it was good motivation for the last 1k.”
First Red Coat moments are special. But this seemed even more cherished for the athlete who has been pushing for a long time.
Sophie Egnot-Johnson (8.32.28) generated a massive sprint to claim second ahead of a hugely disappointed Shannon Cox (8.32.33).
Today, there was no overshadowing the row of Kathryn Glen.
Kathryn Glen after winning the Women's Premier Single Sculls A Final and being awarded her first red coat. Photo: Sharron Bennett Photography
There were big hugs for coxswain Bella Murray after Avon absolutely squeaked in to beat Waikato and retain the hotly-contested Senior Eight title.
You might remember the refrain from the Covid years, “We go hard, and we go early.”
Bella was prepared to put her neck out.
“I could tell Waikato had a bit more in the tank so I decided to bring our sprint forward by maybe...200 metres...so we started working the gears with about 700 to go and I’m bloody thankful we did because I think it came down to those last five strokes, whatever we did I think the girls just gave it absolutely everything. I haven’t met a bunch of girls who wanted to win so much compared to these girls.”
So much close racing.
Avon 6.47.74. Waikato 6.47.81.
“In my bones I felt we had it,” says Bella. “I was constantly looking at Bradley, the other cox and I just felt when we went over the line I was moving forward so I figured and hoped but knew deep down we had it, and I’m bloody glad we did.”
Avon's Senior Women's Coxed eight after their A final win. Photo: Picture Show Ltd
Cure coxswain Annabelle Scott was also pretty happy, after their composite crew with Dunstan tipped over North Shore for third, the purple boat finishing in 6.57.99 for a first medal in the eight at this level.
It was another of those blazer-wearing displays on the dais for the Red and White.
A 1-2 in the Men’s Senior Four, Oliver Welch and Ben Taylor gold in the Men’s Premier Pair to name a few of the successes.
Veronica Wall was able to put the disappointment of a sixth-placed finish in the single to win the Premier Double with Kathryn Glen.
Robbie Manson also got up for a Red Coat victory in the Men's Premier Double with Oscar Ruston after his earlier battle with Finn in the single.
The first final
Pre-race chat from the coach:
“I said that I knew that they would deliver because they're really up for this race. I said, ‘You probably didn't know how to take me when you first came across me five and a half months ago. I was this grumpy dude with a whole lot of weird old man sayings that you finally embraced, I see that because you made a pair of socks for me with my favourite saying, Don't dilly dally’.
“I said, ‘I've given you a lot of critique, but none of it's been vindictive. It's all been constructive. I've praised you very rarely, but when I have praised you, I've meant it and I'm really proud of how you guys have come on, how you've taken to the training, turned up for every session. It's surprised me how committed you've been’.
“Then I said, ‘I'm actually quite a softy at heart. I get quite emotional and this is one of those times’.
“Well, I was looking at Kayla, who's our Scandinavian girl and she started to get weepy eyed, and then I looked around at all of them and they were all crying.”
“And I thought, ‘I've said enough. They're in the right frame of mind’.
“And that was it.”
- Olympic medallist and world champion in the men’s eight Barrie Mabbott
The race:
Russell Mills was getting wound up in the commentary box. He sensed the importance of the occasion, the first final of day in the Women’s Intermediate Four. The heart of club rowing.
Pete Mills’ Auckland crew bolted and shut the gate on everyone early on. Barrie’s North Shore crew worked, and then worked harder, to get into medal contention. At 1500 they built again and pushed into silver contention, bow to bow with Mercer. Barrie started running for the finish line. A guy who’s been to the top of world rowing buzzing as his junior crew put on the best race of their lives. Mercer snuck in for second just 0.04 ahead of the North Shore boat.
Everyone won.
The afterwards:
What do ya reckon coach: “Happy with that, very happy. Good end to the season for them in that boat. Really good. They rowed their little hearts out. Yep, very proud.”
No tears. Emotional? Just a bit.
North Shore’s “No Dilly Dallying” Intermediate Four, from left, Lily Dwyer, Kayla Paladin, Hamish Toogood, coach Barrie Mabbott, Georgia Thorpe, Izzy Karim. Picture: Andy Hay
At the end of day four Waikato Rowing Club and Avon Rowing Club are even in overall points.
Andy Hay
Andy Hay is a freelance producer, writer and rowing coach. He coxed New Zealand's world champion eight in 1982 and '83.
