Blenheim man set to compete in historic race at Henley Regatta
Rowing had to take a back seat for Blenheim man Alex Hill when he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force but three years on he is combining his enthusiasm for both.
Leading Aircraftman Hill, 22, is the coxswain for the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) rowing squad competing in the King’s Cup, 100 years since the event was held after the end of the First World War, as troops waited to return home.
The Cup is being competed for from 5–7 July at Henley-on-Thames, in England, under the umbrella of Henley Royal Regatta. Australia won the 1919 Cup from New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Canada, and this year the original six nations will be joined by Germany and The Netherlands.
Leading Aircraftman Hill grew up in Blenheim with younger brother Callum and parents Steve and Jo Hill, who run a vineyard bike hire business.
He rowed for four years while at Marlborough Boys’ College and for a year before joining the RNZAF.
“As a schoolboy you always dream of racing for New Zealand or going to the Olympics,” he said. “This isn’t the Olympics but you’re still racing against other nations, so it’s the next-best thing.”
“It’s pretty incredible and it still hasn’t really sunk in. It probably won’t until I’m standing there.”
Leading Aircraftman Hill faces some unique challenges as a coxswain in a rank-based organisation — he’ll be telling people he usually salutes what to do, and at volume, given the gladiatorial nature of Henley Royal Regatta racing, where 100,000 people line the river banks yelling support.
“You’ve got to stay friendly and patient the whole time and be constantly aware of how you’re saying things and the crew is reacting to what you’re doing. Everyone’s been pretty good,” he said.
“It’s a balance between being in charge and not being too much of a dictator.”
Leading Aircraftman Hill never thought he would have the chance to represent the NZDF in sport, despite it being a huge part of the organisation’s culture because it promotes teamwork, excellence, fitness and physical wellbeing — all qualities essential to the military.
“I’m not big enough or fast enough for rugby or football, and not tall enough for basketball, so it’s just excellent to be able to take part,” he said.
The NZDF squad for the event is: Leading Aircraftman Alex Hill (coxswain), Major Emily Hume, Lieutenant Commander Juliet MacLean, Corporal Rebekah Salt, Flying Officer Connor Broughton, Sub Lieutenant Rob Creasy, Lieutenant Ricky Daniel-Nield, Lance Corporal Mark Evans, Private Ryan Flintoft, Second Lieutenant Ashton Lovell, Lance Corporal Jack Proudfoot, Ordinary Rate Cathan Tamarapa, Rachel Gamble-Flint (coach), Wing Commander Rhys Taylor (manager).
