“No one can make the boat go faster by themselves.”

Coaching experience: With 7+ years’ coaching experience, James has previously been assistant head coach at Blackrock College Rowing Club (2014-2018), development coach for Rowing Ireland (2017-2018) and University College Dublin novice coach (2020-22).

Where did you row for school? I rowed at Blackrock College Rowing Club which is based in Dublin, Ireland.

Highest rowing achievement: Winning an Irish national title in the Men's Club 8.

Do you still row? No unfortunately not. I currently do Triathlon but maybe I'll come back to rowing someday!

Most memorable rowing experience: Meeting 4x Olympic gold medal winner Matthew Pinsent at the Dad Vail regatta in Philadelphia.

Favourite observation about rowing: Ergs don’t float …

Squad for 22/23 rowing season: U16 Girls & Boys crews

Started rowing: At school at MAGS and have been coaching with the squad for four years now.

What is your day job? Rowing coach & UoA student studying a Bachelor of Science (majoring in Exercise Science)

Favourite rowing memory: The wind of legend in the BU16 8+ Christmas Regatta 2016.

Advice for anyone taking up rowing as a sport: Take every opportunity to improve and progress. Rowing is a sport where you get as much out as you put in.

What do you enjoy most about rowing? Seeing the positive impact it has on people’s lives. Not just the on-water improvement but the character development and growth of a rower is phenomenal to watch.

Squad for 22/23 rowing season: Senior Girls

Coaching & rowing experience: India Mattocks has recently graduated from Edinburgh University. While at university she rowed at international levels and captained the University Women’s Performance Rowing Squad for the 2021/22 season. India has experience in coaching, including a year at Melbourne High School.

Coaching experience: More than 20+ years including, Canterbury University Rowing Club, Macleans College Rowing (10 years), Auckland Rowing Club, MAGSROW (eight seasons and counting!).

Where did you row for school? Began rowing at Canterbury University.

Highest rowing achievement: Gold medals in Senior 8, Senior 4, Club 8 and Hebberley Shield (University Eights).

Do you still row? Yes, when time allows.

A memorable rowing experience: Rowing at Henley Royal Regatta and beating a NZ 4+ in a 500m sprint race by two lengths. And the recent MAGSROW squad results at the Maadi Cup - the national championships for school rowing.

Squad for 22/23 rowing season: Senior Boys

Started rowing: Mount Albert Grammar School

Day job: Law and Arts student at the University of Otago.

Favourite rowing memory: Making the podium with the West End Rowing Club (WERC) senior eight at the New Zealand Nationals 2021.

Squad for 22/23 rowing season: Novice Girls

How did your rowing journey begin? I started rowing in Year 9 at MAGS. I chose rowing because it looked like a good sport for uncoordinated people.

Favourite rowing memory: Getting a silver medal at the 2022 club nationals in the club single after I was 5th at the halfway point.

Favourite post rowing snack: Electrolytes and mint and cacao snack balls.

What do you love most about rowing? The feeling of a fast boat and always working to improve myself to help my team go the fastest we can.

Best piece of rowing advice you have received? You have done the training for it, now go show it.

What do you do when you’re not rowing or coaching? I’m studying Sport and Exercise Science at AUT and I’m a volunteer firefighter.

Squad for 22/23 rowing season: Novice Boys
Started rowing: Year 9 at MAGS

What is your day job? Electrical apprentice

Favourite rowing memory: Taking part in a coxswain push-up competition on water against three other coxswains and winning!

Squad for 22/23 rowing season: Support Coach

Coaching experience: More than six years’ experience including Diocesan Rowing Club (2016 - 2018), Baby Blues coach (2018), AUT Rowing Head Coach 2018, and MAGSROW (2018 - current).

Highest rowing achievement: Rowed for Diocesan School and won Gold in the Girls U18 Eight (Levin Jubilee Cup).

Memorable rowing experiences: Dance-offs and singalongs during my school rowing camps!

Favourite rowing memory: When both of our U17 8s won gold at Head of Harbour and to celebrate we jumped in the water at West End Rowing Club.

Favourite post rowing snack: Guacamole on bagels and mini juice boxes.

What do you enjoy most about rowing? The people and community that come with the sport.

Any big rowing goals? For the senior girls squad to make as many A Finals as possible at Maadi.

Best piece of rowing advice you have ever received? Think about how hard your competition is training - and then train harder.

Favourite rowing memory: Chilling out at the Kaipaki Memorial Hall in my novice and U16 season with all my rowing friends.

Favourite post rowing snack: Pasta of any description.

What do you enjoy most about rowing? The community is one of the best aspects of rowing - it is so welcoming and awesome to be a part of it.

Best piece of rowing advice you have ever received? Hard work now, pays for everything later.

If you have spare time from rowing/training, what will we find you doing? Eating, sleeping or studying.

Favourite rowing memory: Camping in tents at summer camp with all of my U16 girls squad.

Favourite post rowing snack: Toast and eggs, or Replace.

What do you enjoy most about rowing? I love that you get to make memories with some of your closest friends.

Do you have any big rowing goals you have set for yourself? For the senior girls to get into the Maadi A Finals, and I want to make into the U18 North vs South squad.

How did you get started with rowing? I started in Year 9 because it looked fun.

Favourite rowing memory: Winning the U16 4 at North Islands.

Favourite post rowing snack: A banana.

Best piece of rowing advice you have ever received? What you put in is what you get out.

Any big rowing goals you have set for yourself? Not getting third at Maadi again - aiming for first!