“No one can make the boat go faster by themselves.”

Steven Finlayson is the new director of rowing at Mount Albert Grammar School.  His rowing journey started at St Kentigern College and progressed to surf boat rowing where he achieved multiple titles.

He has been coaching at Tauranga Rowing Club for the past eight years and has coached many crews to a high level of success. 

In 2022 and 2023 he coached several crews to gold, silver and bronze medals at NZ Champs and multiple A finals at MAADI. 

At MAADI this year he coached the winner of the U16 single who also achieved bronze in the U17 single. 

In 2023 Steven was the boys sculling coach and in 2024 was the girls sculling coach At North Island vs South Island U18’s. In 2024 the North Island team won the trophy for the first time since 2019.

He has a high-performance background in academia with a Masters in Science with first class honours from the University of Waikato.  He is focused on providing a strong training environment underpinned with a good culture.

Holly is a former Mt Albert Grammar Student who started with MAGSROW as a rower in 2015. To this day she is still rowing with the West End Rowing Club, having had incredible successes. Most recently she won the Nationals in the U22 Single category, and placed 2nd in the Senior Single. 

Holly has a passion for rowing, it has been a huge part of her life, and feels it is a privilege to share her experience and her passion with the rowers at MAGSROW.