After a number of years working in the NZ U19 Rowing Team, it was a huge honor to get the nod to be working with the U23 team this year. As it happened, 2023 was to be the first year Rowing New Zealand was to select and train crews exclusively based in the USA on scholarships at various Universities. My role was to work with a group of 6 rowers and 1 coxswain of which a coxed four would be selected. However, just days before the trial, one of our trialists withdrew and we were left to select a four from five guys – not easy. Working alongside Fi Bourke, Janey Charlton and having John Storey join us for the trial, a men’s four and women’s four and single were selected.  ​For the next 3 weeks, we trained out of the Cal Berkeley boathouse where two of our Waikato Alumni were also based (Campbell Crouch and Matt Waddell). Living conditions initially reminded me of my days flatting at Otago University but after a significant spring clean, things were looking up. Our Waikato man, Matt Waddell was selected in the four, along with Aucklanders, Ben Shortt, Harry Fitzpatrick, Sean McHugh and coxed by Harry Malloy. They were a talented group of guys but because of covid lockdowns they hadn’t been exposed to a world regatta of any kind so the journey of discovery was going to be a big one. ​In Berkeley, we trained on an estuary so it was challenging to understand our speed as we were always either with or against the tide. Using the women’s four in pacing and race pieces, we could see how we were going compared to them prognostically, but neither had any idea as to whether they were fast or slow! We kept plugging away and started to develop a rhythm knowing that when we got to Bulgaria, there would still be plenty of time to make technical gains. ​Bulgaria was hot. When we arrived, Europe was experiencing another one of its heat waves so we were forced to do our training in the mornings and hide out in the hotel in the afternoons. Getting out of a Pockock boat and into a brand new Filippi was a nice change, and the crew made some quick progress with regard to their consistency and rhythm. Although fragile, when they got onto it, they could go fast which was a relief. Although, at this level, no matter how fast you go, it’s never fast enough as we were to find out. ​Onto the final. In preparation we planned to do the same start but knew we had to land on a more efficient rhythm in order to stay in the race in the second 1000m. As things transpired, we were first to the 750m, 3rd through the 1000m and ended up 5th getting rowed through by USA and Aussie at around 1400m. A classic case of fly and die. As we feared, our rhythm was just too fragile and under the pressure of A final racing and a huge first 750m. We couldn’t find it and got burned up before the line. While it was disappointing not to come away with anything shiny, the performance was decent and many good lessons were learned.Over the regatta it was awesome to see our very own Finn Hamill pick up a silver medal in the lightweight single clocking a rapid 6:48 in the final. Equally impressive was our captain Josh Vodanovich rolling through the A final of the pair in 4th place. Ben Olifers stroked the Men’s quad along with Ed Lopas and Evan Williams to a win in the C-Final in a time of 5:53. Oscar Ruston did an amazing job as team reserve and picked up 3rd in the spares race. We hope to see all of these men back in the team for 2024. It’s also worth mentioning that the Schock Civil Waikato Rowing Club had the highest number of athletes represented in the U23 team this year. Bring on the summer. Photo by Art of Rowing.