Eric Murray (Author) Eric Murray was born in Hastings, 1982, and is one half of the New Zealand coxless pair that took six seconds off the world record and won gold at the London and Rio Olympics. In 2011 Murray set a new world record on an indoor rowing machine, 18,728m in one hour on a Concept 2 Dynamic Rowing Machine. On 17 January 2012 Murray raced five-time men's single scull world champion Mahe Drysdale in the single scull event, winning by less than half a second. Murray was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2013 New Year's Honours, for his services to rowing. He is also a registered marriage celebrant. Hamish Bond (Author) Hamish Bond was born in Dunedin, 1986, and is one half of the New Zealand coxless pair that took six seconds off the world record and won gold at the London and Rio Olympics. He has a Bachelor of Business Studies degree (majoring in finance) and a Graduate Diploma in financial planning from Massey University. Bond is also a big fan of cycling, and in 2009 he raced at elite level alongside fellow Olympian Sam Bewley, competing in the six-day Tour of Southland for the Zookeepers-Cycle Surgery team. Bond was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2013 New Year's Honours, for his services to rowing.