Due to the late release of supplementary entries, this article was written prior to the release of the entry draw
The Women’s Intermediate Eight is often a good prognostic of the leading crews that will contest the Girls’ U16 Eight later in the season as the ‘club’ season draws to a close. While the event has been sparsely entered thus far, there are still standout crews from the U16 category that will likely be entered into this event at the N.I Championships, allowing themselves to draw a line in the sand for the school regattas later.
Diocesan School for Girls (Auckland)
A relatively comfortable win for Auckland Dio saw them take the Girls’ U16 Eight at the Christmas Regatta, against a stacked field of Waikato crews that have been on a winning streak. With a three-second margin over second place, and more than a length back to third place, Dio looks to be easing themselves back into the competition in terms of big boat events. The school has been relatively quiet in the past when entering the big boats compared to their Waikato compatriots, but has seen success in the quad and smaller boats. This season looks promising, as they build on the form that won them the U15 Eight at the 2025 Maadi Regatta, and with two boats in the A-final of the Christmas Regatta, squad depth at the Intermediate level looks to be increasing as well. I would expect Dio to win this event at the N.I Champs, as they have proven they cannot only get two crews into the A-final but also perform strongly with the first crew.
Queen Margaret College (Wellington)
An entry into this event at the N.I Champs would have to see a reshuffle for the Queen Margaret, as they entered two rowers who are ‘club’ grade into the U16 Eight at the Christmas Regatta. Nevertheless, it may be that two seat swaps do not make a massive impact if the other six crew members have shown they can make the eight go fast without their two club rowers. A respectable silver medal at the Christmas Regatta in front of two very fast Waikato Diocesan crews will instil confidence in the school, as it was a school largely absent from the U15 sweep rowing. Four members of the crew that took silver at the Christmas Regatta also made the A-final in the U15 Four at the Maadi Regatta, and it was a similar crew that made the A-final of the U15 Octuple as well. Queen Margaret will have to decide whether or not to prioritise the Intermediate/U16 Eight this season, and a lengthy Christmas training block will hopefully have helped them decide.
Predictions
My pick to win the Intermediate Eight is undoubtedly Auckland Dio; they come off the back of a powerful performance at the Christmas Regatta, and they are a crew with an excellent early winning pedigree already. I am slightly wary about whether Queen Margaret will attend, but I think they would be close to the podium regardless. Waikato Dio will fill the remaining spots on the podium, as they have been strong this season as well.
