Bradley Leydon – From Casual Paddler To Charlie Stapp Champion

“Elliott Jenkins was the guy to beat. He set the fastest times in the heats. I hadn’t raced him until the final, but I knew when I did I had to go full-tilt from the start and make him stress.” Bradley Leydon explains of his strategy before the Under-18 Singles sculls final at the Maadi Cup regatta.

Such an assertive strategy won Leydon the Charlie Stapp Trophy by nearly four seconds.

“I went as hard as I could over the first 250 and managed to get a good lead. He gained half a length at the 750, but I dug deep and held on. Elliott is a great rower. I am stoked with the result.” Leydon enthuses.

Later Leydon was at it again in the under-18 double sculls, claiming the bronze alongside Lochie Bain.

Such success seemed unlikely four years ago when a clueless Leydon joined the sport.

“I couldn’t tell you why I took up rowing. It was four years ago and I went down to the Otago Rowing Club looking for something to do. I am a border from Wakatipu so I guess I wanted to make some new friends and it’s grown from there.” Leydon says.

This leisurely approach didn’t last long. After a period of trial and error in the under-15 and 16 seasons, Leydon struck medals at Maadi in 2016.

“I won bronze in the Under-17 single and double sculls. I won the doubles with my mate Alex Timmins. It was then I thought I could take this seriously, even more so when I realised the top two single scullers from 2016 were leaving school.” Leydon reveals.

In order to become top dog himself, Leydon was forced to overhaul his entire technique.

“My coach Jock Jolly noticed a lot of flaws in my technique which were holding me back. He basically taught me how to row again. I competed for the Wakatipu Rowing Club in the lead up to Maadi just to get more time on the water.” Leydon admits.

Leydon won the South Island title and his performance at Maadi has earned him selection for the New Zealand Junior squad.

“I fly up to Cambridge on Friday for a four day camp. It’s going to be intense, but I can’t wait. I would sit in any boat if I had a silver fern on my chest.” Leydon says.

A good performance in Cambridge could lead to international meets. Leydon is also in contention for a scholarship to Harvard University in the US.

“It’s pretty prestigious and competitive the US University since. There are more Kiwis going over there so it would be great to have a chance at that.” explains.
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Impressively Leydon, a former basketball and rugby player, has overcome injured knee ligaments to flourish in rowing. In the little spare time he has Leydon enjoys photography.

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