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Moving on up
The momentum is building in the New Zealand camp at the Worlds in Canada.
In pro golf, Friday’s make or break - you either make the cut and play the weekend or you chuck the clubs in the trunk and start thinking about the next tournament.
New Zealand’s Under 23 squad had their own make or break moments at St Catharines in Canada on day four of the World Championships.
Five crews were on the water for semifinals, four of them progressing to A Finals. They join the Women’s Coxed Four which has already raced for lanes in their preliminary.
The Women’s Four won their semifinal in a stroke-for-stroke battle with Great Britain.
Alice Fahey, Madeleine Parker, Beckie Leigh and Lucy Burrell crossed in 7min 02.99 sec to beat the Brits by just under a second.
Australia won the second semi on 7.07.06.
Coach Fiona Bourke’s not a gusher but it’s clear she’s formed a tight bond with her crew.
She coached Alice in Under 21s in 2021 and has been a key player in migrating them into the New Zealand system via their US college teams.
“I was lucky to have Alice, Beckie and Lucy last year in the [U23] Coxed Four and they put a lot of trust in Rowing New Zealand and buying into the first US based Under 23 campaign we put together,” says Fiona.
“For the past four years, they’ve been a part of a project that I had in mind and it's really cool to see them grow and develop and see them out here racing against the best.
“I think they're a really special group and capable of going a really long way, and just getting them to start having that belief in themselves about it, is really important to me.”
The Women’s Four of Alice Fahey, Madeleine Parker, Beckie Leigh and Lucy Burrell after racing in their semifinal at the U23 2024 World Rowing Championships. Photo: Art Of Rowing
Dale Maher had his head in his hands before the semifinal for the Men’s Four of Josh Gordon, Callum Tutbury, Ed Lopas and Ben Shortt.
It wasn’t despair, just a few nerves for the crew he’s only had a short time to work with.
By the 1500m, he was up on his feet and hollering “Red Light” as they took it to Australia over the dying stages to finish second and qualify for the A Final.
It’s going to be a tight race if the semis are anything to go by:
Great Britain took out semifinal one in 6.19.33; France 6.19.55; Romania 6.20.96. In semifinal two, Australia was 6.19.33, the men in black were 6.21.64.
Dale reckons he might have thrown out the Red Light call, (code for “throw everything at it, it’s just blood in your eyes” time) a bit early.
Fortunately, the boys had it under control and Ed Lopas made the call that has taken them to a race where anything could happen.
The U23 Men’s Four of Josh Gordon, Callum Tutbury, Ed Lopas and Ben Shortt racing in their semifinal at the 2024 U23 World Rowing Championships. Photo: Art of Rowing
The 1500m mark was also a rallying point for Oscar Ruston in the Men’s Single Sculls and Ollie Welch and Josh Vodanovich in the Men’s Pair.
By that stage Oscar was just a length down on Germany’s Timo Strache. But he had also opened a similar gap over the sculler from Ireland.
It’s also where Ollie and Josh looked to have their semifinal comfortably under control, doing just what they needed to beat out a fast-finishing Italian crew.
Ollie Welch and Josh Vodanovich after racing in their semifinal at the 2024 World Rowing Championships in the Men’s Pair. Photo: ART OF ROWING
From the same position on the bank it looked like the Men’s Quad of Jack Pearson, Finn Hamill, Evan Williams and Angus Kenny had a shot at an A Final as well.
Just 0.06s separated them and France for third spot going through the 1500m, the New Zealand boat narrowly missing out.
A few minutes later in the team tent, amid the high energy of those crews that had made the cut, the quad and their coach were quietly talking through their disappointment.
But unlike the cut in golf, they’ll get another round in the B final. They’ll be back.
The Men’s U23 Quad of Jack Pearson, Finn Hamill, Evan Williams and Angus Kenny racing at the 2024 World Rowing Championships. Photo: Art Of Rowing
Doubles Trouble
James Dimock and Marley King Smith were the first Under 19 crew to get their regatta underway.
They pushed off the dock with plenty of time to make their heat at 11.24am. But a broken shoe had them scrambling back for repairs and then needing to hoof it back to the starting zone.
The drama left them a little unsettled for the opening 20 strokes and then they got in their zone and took off, overhauling Italy to win by almost three seconds 6.58.75.
The Under 19s have been hanging in quietly while the U23s do their thing.
Tomorrow it’s time to unleash.
James Dimock and Marley King Smith racing in their men's doubles heat at the U19 World Rowing Championships. Photo: Art of Rowing
Breakfast buddies
Coco Flood and Poppy Wyndham have formed a Special K-onnection and formidable partnership in the Women’s U19 squad, winning the spares race in the pair.
They had the boat Up and Go-ing, there was snap, crackle and yes, Pop. This is a squad full of nicknames:
Olivia Tattersfield = Tatters
Emma Bagrie = Baggers
Charlie Butterfield = well, if you haven’t figured this one out, you’re not following the trend.
Madeline Cox = Mad Dog
But Coco and Poppy have morphed into a single entity: CocoPops. Breakfast of champions.
And yes, it’s Butters.
There’s a Roald Dahl story in there somewhere.
Coco Flood and Poppy Wyndham embracing after their Women’s U19 spares race in the pair at the 2024 World Rowing Championships. Photo: Art Of Rowing
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
- /
- Moving on up
Moving on up
The momentum is building in the New Zealand camp at the Worlds in Canada.
In pro golf, Friday’s make or break - you either make the cut and play the weekend or you chuck the clubs in the trunk and start thinking about the next tournament.
New Zealand’s Under 23 squad had their own make or break moments at St Catharines in Canada on day four of the World Championships.
Five crews were on the water for semifinals, four of them progressing to A Finals. They join the Women’s Coxed Four which has already raced for lanes in their preliminary.
The Women’s Four won their semifinal in a stroke-for-stroke battle with Great Britain.
Alice Fahey, Madeleine Parker, Beckie Leigh and Lucy Burrell crossed in 7min 02.99 sec to beat the Brits by just under a second.
Australia won the second semi on 7.07.06.
Coach Fiona Bourke’s not a gusher but it’s clear she’s formed a tight bond with her crew.
She coached Alice in Under 21s in 2021 and has been a key player in migrating them into the New Zealand system via their US college teams.
“I was lucky to have Alice, Beckie and Lucy last year in the [U23] Coxed Four and they put a lot of trust in Rowing New Zealand and buying into the first US based Under 23 campaign we put together,” says Fiona.
“For the past four years, they’ve been a part of a project that I had in mind and it's really cool to see them grow and develop and see them out here racing against the best.
“I think they're a really special group and capable of going a really long way, and just getting them to start having that belief in themselves about it, is really important to me.”
The Women’s Four of Alice Fahey, Madeleine Parker, Beckie Leigh and Lucy Burrell after racing in their semifinal at the U23 2024 World Rowing Championships. Photo: Art Of Rowing
Dale Maher had his head in his hands before the semifinal for the Men’s Four of Josh Gordon, Callum Tutbury, Ed Lopas and Ben Shortt.
It wasn’t despair, just a few nerves for the crew he’s only had a short time to work with.
By the 1500m, he was up on his feet and hollering “Red Light” as they took it to Australia over the dying stages to finish second and qualify for the A Final.
It’s going to be a tight race if the semis are anything to go by:
Great Britain took out semifinal one in 6.19.33; France 6.19.55; Romania 6.20.96. In semifinal two, Australia was 6.19.33, the men in black were 6.21.64.
Dale reckons he might have thrown out the Red Light call, (code for “throw everything at it, it’s just blood in your eyes” time) a bit early.
Fortunately, the boys had it under control and Ed Lopas made the call that has taken them to a race where anything could happen.
The U23 Men’s Four of Josh Gordon, Callum Tutbury, Ed Lopas and Ben Shortt racing in their semifinal at the 2024 U23 World Rowing Championships. Photo: Art of Rowing
The 1500m mark was also a rallying point for Oscar Ruston in the Men’s Single Sculls and Ollie Welch and Josh Vodanovich in the Men’s Pair.
By that stage Oscar was just a length down on Germany’s Timo Strache. But he had also opened a similar gap over the sculler from Ireland.
It’s also where Ollie and Josh looked to have their semifinal comfortably under control, doing just what they needed to beat out a fast-finishing Italian crew.
Ollie Welch and Josh Vodanovich after racing in their semifinal at the 2024 World Rowing Championships in the Men’s Pair. Photo: ART OF ROWING
From the same position on the bank it looked like the Men’s Quad of Jack Pearson, Finn Hamill, Evan Williams and Angus Kenny had a shot at an A Final as well.
Just 0.06s separated them and France for third spot going through the 1500m, the New Zealand boat narrowly missing out.
A few minutes later in the team tent, amid the high energy of those crews that had made the cut, the quad and their coach were quietly talking through their disappointment.
But unlike the cut in golf, they’ll get another round in the B final. They’ll be back.
The Men’s U23 Quad of Jack Pearson, Finn Hamill, Evan Williams and Angus Kenny racing at the 2024 World Rowing Championships. Photo: Art Of Rowing
Doubles Trouble
James Dimock and Marley King Smith were the first Under 19 crew to get their regatta underway.
They pushed off the dock with plenty of time to make their heat at 11.24am. But a broken shoe had them scrambling back for repairs and then needing to hoof it back to the starting zone.
The drama left them a little unsettled for the opening 20 strokes and then they got in their zone and took off, overhauling Italy to win by almost three seconds 6.58.75.
The Under 19s have been hanging in quietly while the U23s do their thing.
Tomorrow it’s time to unleash.
James Dimock and Marley King Smith racing in their men's doubles heat at the U19 World Rowing Championships. Photo: Art of Rowing
Breakfast buddies
Coco Flood and Poppy Wyndham have formed a Special K-onnection and formidable partnership in the Women’s U19 squad, winning the spares race in the pair.
They had the boat Up and Go-ing, there was snap, crackle and yes, Pop. This is a squad full of nicknames:
Olivia Tattersfield = Tatters
Emma Bagrie = Baggers
Charlie Butterfield = well, if you haven’t figured this one out, you’re not following the trend.
Madeline Cox = Mad Dog
But Coco and Poppy have morphed into a single entity: CocoPops. Breakfast of champions.
And yes, it’s Butters.
There’s a Roald Dahl story in there somewhere.
Coco Flood and Poppy Wyndham embracing after their Women’s U19 spares race in the pair at the 2024 World Rowing Championships. Photo: Art Of Rowing
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.
