New Zealand rower scores shock win in Switzerland
The four New Zealand crews in the A-finals in Lucerne all picked up medals with Logan Ullrich scoring his maiden single sculls win.
The men's pair and double both finished second with the women's four third.
Two weeks ago Ullrich failed to make the A-final at the opening World Cup regatta, a week ago he was hitting impressive numbers on the erg and today, after just six races at international level in the single sculls, he won gold.
Ullrich is in the single this year after winning an Olympic silver medal in the four last year.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I've dreamed about this for years," he told World Rowing. "I didn't think it would come this quickly in my sculling career, I'm just blown away."
Coach Mike Rodger, who mentored Emma Twigg to her successful Olympic campaigns, was also blown away by Ullrich's rapid rise.
"He's phenomenal," Rodger said. "You've got to remember he hasn't really rowed a single at all, but because he's so green, he just takes everything in, listens and makes the changes."
Ben Mason and Finn Hamill again showed their ability to attack over the second half of the race to win silver in the Men's Double.
Finlay Hamill, left, and Benjamin Mason of New Zealand compete in the Men's Double Sculls Final A on the third day of the 2025 World Rowing Cup at Rotsee in Lucerne. (Source: Associated Press)
The duo had only raced together three times before this weekend, but are now being talked about as one of the crews to watch ahead of the World Championships in China in September.
Men's Pair Ben Taylor and Oli Welch were pipped by Romania's experienced combination of Florin Lehaci and Florin Arteni, the current European champions.
The Women's Four overcame illness earlier on their tour of Europe to grab bronze.
rnz.co.nz
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
No love lost among Black Ferns as World Cup selection looms
Black Fern Kaipo Olsen-Baker clashes heads with Wallaroos rival Emily Chancellor during the Pacific Four test series. Photo: DAN HIMBRECHTS With Black Ferns hopefuls looking to book their World Cup tickets, the hits at training carry a little extra heat behind them this week. Just two matches remain before the squad is selected, and players are doing everything to impress and holding nothing back. "There's a level of really deep competition," co-captain Maiakawanakaulani Roos said. "We're all coming for each other's spot, and I think it's just forcing us to grow, learn, and pull out our own superpowers even more," The 29-test lock said there was an edge in the air. "There's so much competition, so much on the line right now, and we're at a point where we have so much trust in the group that we can give each other a good hit, but we know that it's because we want the other person to be better," she said. "I think that's a really cool feeling to have in a group." Friendships will be put to one side this weekend, when the Black Ferns take on the Black Ferns XV, where players like Ruby Tui, who missed out on the initial New Zealand squad , will have a big point to prove. "There's so much quality in the Black Ferns XV to match the quality in our side," Roos said. "I'm really excited to see how it plays out. "It will just be head to head everywhere. We're so close to World Cup selection right now, so it will just be how we can make the most of those minutes that we have." She said the fact the likes of Tui were fighting for a spot spoke to the talent pool New Zealand currently boasted. "There's depth and experience, depth in even the young players who have just started playing this year. It's been really exciting to see their growth." Sylvia Brunt in action against Canada in the Pacific Four series. Photo: Photosport Among those young players is Mia Anderson, who will make her first start for the Black Ferns this Saturday. "We're definitely playing against some of my mates and some girls I've played alongside for years," Anderson said. "When you get on the field, it's just luck in, but off the field, mates again." The debut will be made even more meaningful for Anderson in her home region of Northland, an area that also holds special significance for Roos. "We played a few games up north during the Rugby World Cup and I think a few people were going around, saying it was the home of the Black Ferns, so we're just so excited to go back to the fields up there," Roos said. "The rugby culture is so cool, so connected, so together, we just love getting out to the regions." She believed the side was building strongly towards the August tournament. "We still haven't reached our peak. I feel like we're still at like 70 percent and so we've got a few more weeks to keep building. "When the squad that gets selected to go to World Cup gets to play that first match, I'm sure we'll be right where we need to be." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
1News
10 hours ago
- 1News
Surprises in Robertson's All Blacks team to face France in first Test
Scott Robertson's first match-day squad of the year has come with several surprises, the biggest of which is lock Tupou Vaa'i starting at blindside flanker and Fabian Holland making his debut at lock. Christian Lio-Willie, initially included in the squad as injury cover after helping the Crusaders to the Super Rugby Pacific title, will start at No.8 in his Test debut. Injuries and recent heavy workloads have clearly played a part in Robertson's thinking for the Test against France in Dunedin on Saturday night, with tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax unavailable and no sign of Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu. Vaa'i has played flanker in a Test before – during the 2023 World Cup – but Robertson's decision to go with him there rather than Samipeni Finau, who is on the bench, is an intriguing one. Elsewhere, Rieko Ioane is on the left wing with Billy Proctor to start at centre, and Sevu Reece on the right. ADVERTISEMENT As predicted, Beauden Barrett will start at first-five, with Damian McKenzie on the bench. Cam Roigard gets the nod as starting halfback over Cortez Ratima, with Jordie Barrett straight back at second-five after his sabbatical in Ireland. Fabian Holland (Source: Photosport) Two others, Ollie Norris and loose forward Du'Plessis Kirifi are in line to make their Test debuts off the bench. Robertson said the uncapped players have worked hard to get to this point and are ready to step into the test arena. "This is a huge moment for these men and their families, we are all thrilled for them. For Fabian and Christian, it will be special to debut in front of a Dunedin home crowd and I am sure Fabian's Highlanders supporters and Christian's Otago fans will be out in full force. 'Ollie and Du'Plessis have both shown their class in Super Rugby this year and we know they are ready.' Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell make up the starting front row, with recalled All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho and 7-test prop Pasilio Tosi in the reserves. ADVERTISEMENT Vice-captain Ardie Savea will wear the No.7 jersey. 'Facing France is always special - they bring intensity, flair, and physicality. As a group we have had a fantastic ten days together, preparing for the three-test series ahead of us. "We are ready for the challenge and what better place to kick it off than under the roof in Dunedin, in front of a packed home crowd," Robertson said. * More to come All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets; * denotes debutant) ADVERTISEMENT 1. Ethan de Groot (29) 2. Codie Taylor (96) 3. Fletcher Newell (22) 4. Scott Barrett (80) (Captain) 5. Fabian Holland * 6. Tupou Vaa'i (38) 7. Ardie Savea (94) (Vice-Captain) ADVERTISEMENT 8. Christian Lio-Willie * 9. Cam Roigard (10) 10. Beauden Barrett (134) 11. Rieko Ioane (81) 12. Jordie Barrett (68) (Vice-Captain) 13. Billy Proctor (2) 14. Sevu Reece (32) ADVERTISEMENT 15. Will Jordan (41) Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho (30) 17. Ollie Norris * 18. Pasilio Tosi (7) 19. Samipeni Finau (8) 20. Du'Plessis Kirifi * ADVERTISEMENT 21. Cortez Ratima (11) 22. Quinn Tupaea (14) 23. Damian McKenzie (61) Unavailable due to injury: Tamaiti Williams (knee); Tyrel Lomax (calf); Wallace Sititi (ankle); Luke Jacobson (concussion); Anton Lienert-Brown (collarbone)
1News
10 hours ago
- 1News
NZ-raised Cameron Norrie stuns 12th seed in Wimbledon upset
New Zealand-raised Cameron Norrie stunned American 12th seed Frances Tiafoe at Wimbledon overnight. Norrie is now ranked 61, lost in the first round of both his warm-up events, and had never previously beaten a top-20 player at Wimbledon. But that mattered little as the British No. 3 came back from losing the first set to win 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-5. "I'm enjoying my tennis more than ever. It was really nice coming up to get into the top 10 but it's just tough, really tough, to stay there," Norrie said. "It's nice to hunt the other guys. I was coming into the match today against Frances, being the underdog, playing for free. "It was a lot easier than in the past when I previously played Frances. I was the highest-seeded player, and the pressure was on me." ADVERTISEMENT Champ ends British student's Wimbledon fairy tale There are students everywhere at Wimbledon. Serving in the restaurants, watering the plants, helping out in the media centre. It's a much sought-after summer job. Among those working here is Oliver Tarvet from St Albans, an ancient town just north of London, who is back home for the holidays from the University of San Diego. Majoring in communications, with a minor in marketing, he will certainly have a story to tell and sell when he returns to California for his final year. Tarvet, 21, has a different role from most students at Wimbledon. He's actually playing, and on Wednesday he found himself centre stage on Centre Court enjoying a fairytale beyond imagination. The world No.733 was given a wildcard into qualifying, unexpectedly parlayed that into a main draw place, then won his opening round match against 117-ranked Leonardo Riedi to earn an encounter with defending champ and world No.2 Carlos Alacaraz on the sport's most famous court. Carlos Alcaraz of Spain and Oliver Tarvet of Britain, right, ishake hands after their second round men's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London. (Source: Associated Press) ADVERTISEMENT That's where the dream ended, the Spaniard winning 6-1 6-4 6-4, except it didn't, really. Tarvet winning nine games was some achievement, and one in which every point was roared on by the home crowd. In the first set, he forced eight break points. In the second, he took one to go 2-0 up, repeating the feat to lead 3-2 in the third. Alcaraz, obviously, prevailed in the end, but Tarvet looks to be a name to remember. Elsewhere, rising Brazilian star Joao Fonseca was overcome with emotion after beating Jenson Brooksby 6-4 5-7 6-2 6-4. The teenager was noisily supported by his compatriots as he became the first Brazilian man to reach the third round since Thomaz Bellucci in 2010. "It's something to be proud of," said Fonseca, who is playing in his fourth tour-level event on grass. "I'm very happy the way that I've developed on this surface, I'm evolving. So I'm happy with it." Russian seeds Andrey Rublev (14) and Karen Khachanov (17) both came back from dropping the opening set to win, defeating South African Lloyd Harris and Japan's Shintaro Mochizuki in four and five sets respectively.
