Draft:Oliver Welch
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Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest policy, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. Wiki add nz (talk) 00:43, 24 September 2025 (UTC)
Oliver Welch (born 20 July 2003) is a New Zealand rower.
A sweep specialist from Avon Rowing Club in Christchurch, he won the overall men’s pair title at the 2025 World Rowing Cup series with partner Ben Taylor (gold in Varese and silver in Lucerne)[1]. He previously won the 2024 World Rowing Under-23 Championship in the men’s pair with Joshua Vodanovich, setting a championship best time. [2]
Early Life and Education
[edit]Welch was educated at Auckland Grammar School, where he first took up rowing and medalled at the Maadi Cup secondary schools regatta. He later moved south to study Financial Engineering at the University of Canterbury. [3] Welch graduated in 2025.
Club Rowing
[edit]In his final year of school, Welch was selected in the New Zealand U19 Men's Eight, but the team could not compete internationally due to COVID-19.[4] After finishing school, Welch rowed for West End Rowing Club out of Auckland at the 2022 New Zealand Rowing Championships, winning senior titles in the men’s eight and coxless four. [5] Welch was then selected in the New Zealand Trans-Tasman University Men's Eight which competed in Australia, and rowed at the Henley Royal Regatta with West End Rowing Club, reaching the quarterfinals of the Thames Challenge Cup. [6]
Now based in Christchurch, he represents Avon Rowing Club and has claimed multiple senior and premier national titles. At the 2023 New Zealand Rowing Championships he earned his prestigious Red Coat by winning the premier men’s eight. In 2024 he helped Avon secure the Boss Rooster trophy in the premier four, and the crew retained it in 2025. [5]
International Career
[edit]Under-23
[edit]Welch reached the A final and placed fourth in the men’s pair at the 2023 World Rowing U23 Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria with Joshua Vodanovich.[2] The following year he won gold in the men’s pair at the 2024 World Rowing U23 Championships in St. Catharines, Canada with Vodanovich, setting the U23 championship best time of 6:19.70.[3]
Senior/Elite
[edit]In his first elite season in 2025, Welch teamed with Ben Taylor for the World Rowing Cups. The pair won gold at World Cup I in Varese, defeating Olympic champions Martin and Valent Sinković, and took silver at World Cup II in Lucerne, securing the series trophy for the men’s pair.[1] At the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai, China, Welch and Taylor won in a time of 6:37.87. [7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "World Rowing - Nine nations win individual World Rowing Cup trophies". World Rowing. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
- ^ a b "World Rowing - Oliver WELCH". World Rowing. Retrieved 2025-09-23.
- ^ a b https://rowingnz.kiwi/Person?Action=Profile&Person_id=29603
- ^ "2021 New Zealand Under 19 Team Announcement : RowingNZ".
- ^ a b "rowIT profile for Oliver". rowIT. Archived from the original on 2020-08-06. Retrieved 2025-09-24.
- ^ "2022 Henley Royal Regatta – Auckland Grammar School". Retrieved 2025-09-24.
- ^ "World Rowing - 2025 World Rowing Championships". World Rowing. Retrieved 2025-09-25.