4 August 2026
BIG NEWS FOR OBHS ROWING
We're thrilled to welcome Bryce Abernethy as the new Head Coach of Otago Boys' Rowing.
Q: Welcome to Otago Boys' rowing! Tell us about your rowing journey.
I started rowing in Year 12 at Taieri College and was fortunate to be part of the first Taieri College crew to compete at the Maadi Regatta. From there, I won a silver medal in the Under 19 Double Sculls at the New Zealand Championships, was selected for the New Zealand University team and later the New Zealand Under 21 team. In 2014, I won the Under 20 Double Sculls national title and represented New Zealand at the World University Championships in France. I then went on to represent New Zealand at the Under 23 World Championships in Bulgaria in 2015 and the Netherlands in 2016, with a fourth-place finish in the Lightweight Double in 2015.
Q. How did your coaching career begin?
Following the 2017 season, I required reconstructive surgery on my left hand. During that period, I returned to Dunedin to finish my studies and begin postgraduate study, and that's when I started coaching at John McGlashan College.
During my two-and-a-half seasons there, the school won four Maadi Cup gold medals in the Under 18 Single, Under 17 Single, Under 17 Double and Under 15 Double Sculls.
Those results led to me being offered a coaching role with Rowing New Zealand, coaching the Auckland Regional Performance Centre and the New Zealand Under 21 team.
Since then, I've moved into senior management roles in businesses around Auckland, most recently as General Manager of Operations for the BNZ Breakers basketball team.
I've recently returned to Dunedin to be closer to family and am excited about the opportunity to contribute back to the sport of rowing and help bring success back to Otago Boys' Rowing – a school that was once one of my biggest rivals as both an athlete and a coach!
Q. What excites you most about taking on the Head Coach role at OBHS?
Otago Boys' has a proud rowing history and a strong reputation. I'm excited about helping build on that and creating an environment where boys enjoy coming to training, work hard for each other and strive to be their best.
I'm looking forward to helping develop not only good rowers, but good young men.
Q. You've said one of your goals is to attract more Year 11 and 12 novice rowers. Why is that important?
Having been an athlete who only started rowing in my last season at high school, I know first-hand that it's never too late to pick up the sport. Even Mahe Drysdale only first picked up rowing when he arrived at university.
Older students in a rowing programme bring an awesome culture and leadership to the group. The opportunity for success in rowing increases when you join the sport as an older student.
If you're in Year 11 or 12 and thinking about giving rowing a go for the first time, I'd definitely encourage it.
Q. Outside of competition, what else does rowing teach people?
Rowing teaches a lot of transferable skills that stick with you for the rest of your life.
It teaches commitment, camaraderie and a type of work ethic that is hard to replicate in other sports.
The early morning trainings also encourage organisation, time management and a healthy lifestyle.
Q. What opportunities can rowing create beyond school?
All of my best and lifelong friends have come from the sport of rowing.
Almost all of my international travel has come through rowing. University rowing has opportunities to travel to countries like China, Japan and Australia, and there are also opportunities for boys to earn scholarships to prestigious American universities.
Whether your goal is to represent New Zealand or simply challenge yourself and be part of a great team, rowing opens doors that can stay with you for life.
Very soon, Bryce will be visiting the school to speak at assembly, encouraging boys to come back for another season, while also inspiring those who have never rowed before to get involved and give it a go.
Keep an eye out for our "Have a Go" row days once winter sport is complete - dates to be confirmed.
