2022 Henley Royal Regatta

Over the past week, five Auckland Grammar Old Boys have competed at the Henley Royal Regatta held on the Thames River. Established in 1839, it is the most prestigious regatta in the world, and the highlight of the summer rowing calendar in the UK. Visited by more than 300,000 people each year, Henley Royal Regatta boasts over 300 races across six days of elite sporting competition in a knockout style.

Cody Johnson, Ben Shortt and Oliver Welch (all from the class of 2017) were members of the West End Club Eight crew who were knocked out in the quarterfinals, and 2019 Rowing captain Tommy Barrell ’15, rowing for Berkeley University was second in the Coxed Four race, narrowly missing out on the Gold medal racing against Oxford Brookes.

In one of the premier races of the regatta, Matt Macdonald ’12, who won Gold with the New Zealand Men’s Eight crew at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, won the Men’s Pair race with his partner Tom Mackintosh to receive the Silver Goblets and the Nickalls Challenge Cup.

Matt has had a successful month, also winning the Pairs race at the World Cup Rowing Championships in Poland. Next on the racing schedule for Matt is the World Cup event in Switzerland.

If your son is interesting in learning more about Rowing at the School, he can attend a Learn To Row session in the Old Gym or contact Master in Charge Mr Campbell Lowe via email at c.lowe@ags.school.nz.