An exciting event normally littered with New Zealand development scullers or established New Zealand elites, the Premier Quad is the top level of sculling on the domestic circuit. South Island women’s sculling has looked a similar story to last season, with the battle at the top of the podium between Dunstan and Avon Rowing Club.
Dunstan Arm Rowing Club
At the recent Canterbury Champs just a week ago, Dunstan Arm won the battle over Canterbury Rowing Club, a head-to-head matchup that has been consistent across the past few seasons. This time the margin was tight, with the crews separated by less than a second. This exact crew combination was the one that took fifth at the New Zealand Rowing Championships in 2025, racing in the Senior Quad event. Now racing up a grade, the crew have moved from strength to strength, unbeaten in both Otago and Canterbury champs, in the Open and Premier grade respectively. The contingent are not bad in small boats either; when split into doubles, the club took out the whole podium at the Canterbury Champs, with the quad members placing first and third. While there will be some internal competition for seats in a competitive quad, I don’t think there will be many seat changes made to a crew that has been wildly successful so far this season. With the New Zealand Rowing Championships approaching, I would assume the crew will stay the same for this South Island Rowing Championships.
Avon Rowing Club
Like on the men’s side of sculling at Avon Rowing Club, the scullers in the premier division have been unusually quiet this season. However, a subdued season for Avon still means strong results, and it showed at the Canterbury Champs when Avon took third place on the podium, not too far behind Dunstan‘s second crew. A stacked crew in terms of experience, the quad features two redcoat winners in Phoebe Collier and Harriet Williams, as well as New Zealand U19 reps Sadie Mason and Lilly Grant. Like the Dunstan crew, I believe this crew still has potential for seat swaps, as evidenced by their seat changes between the Otago and Canterbury Champs. While the quad in its current form is strong, it would likely be a stretch for the same quad to make it onto the podium come the New Zealand Championships. However, for now, I would still expect this crew to make it onto the podium for the South Island Rowing Champs.
Prediction
A story of two clubs in the quad, there will be no doubt that Dunstan and Avon both feature on the podium. In terms of podium position, I would still expect Dunstan to win the event, as they have been very consistent this season. Avon will not be far off, though, as a well-developed crew with a deep squad, they will be looking to push on with seat swaps if necessary.
