With the North Island Rowing Championships having just taken place, the South Island now follows suit, hosting the last major event before the highly anticipated New Zealand Rowing Championships. Though there are no senior quad events here, let’s see who the leading contenders are in the women’s premier quad.
Cure Boating Club
Cure Boating Club, founded in 1868 in Kaiapoi, has built a reputation as a smaller club that consistently punches above its weight. The club benefits from a stunning stretch of water ideal for training, where its crews prepare for competitive racing. The women’s premier quad of Sasha Robinson, Madison Neale, Messina Su’a, and Mila Graham has been particularly impressive this season. At the Canterbury Championships, the crew delivered a strong performance, finishing third in a closely contested race, just two seconds behind the winners and under a second from second place. Their consistent results across recent regattas, including a victory in the women’s premier double at Canterbury Champs, have solidified their status as competitive scullers capable of challenging top crews.
Sasha Robinson leads the crew with an outstanding season of personal growth and podium finishes in premier single and double events. Representing Canterbury University, Robinson has steadily developed into a force to be reckoned with, holding her own against elite competitors like Shannon Cox. Partnering with her is Madison Neale, an experienced New Zealand U21 Trans-Tasman representative and national titleholder. Neale brings a wealth of experience, regularly finding success in senior and club sculling events. Together, the duo recently claimed victory in the women’s premier double at Canterbury Champs, highlighting their effective partnership and leadership within the quad.
Messina Su’a and Mila Graham complement the crew as fiercely competitive and determined scullers. Both have shown the ability to perform at a high level and remain poised to break through to the podium at any moment. With their collective experience and potential, this Cure quad has positioned itself as a dark horse capable of pulling off victories on the right day. Their blend of skill, determination, and leadership ensures they are a team to watch in upcoming regattas.
Canterbury Rowing Club
Based on the Avon River in Christchurch, Canterbury Rowing Club competes on a short yet effective stretch of water that serves as their training ground. At the recent Canterbury Champs, their quad performed admirably, finishing second in a tightly contested race against Cure and Dunstan Rowing Club, missing first place by just one second. While the crew has demonstrated consistency in premier sculling events, they missed an opportunity to compete at the Otago Champs due to scratching their entry, leaving them relatively inexperienced as a unit compared to Dunstan. Nonetheless, their talent and potential make them a formidable presence heading into the South Island Club Champs.
This crew boasts a diverse mix of ages and experience levels. Leading the charge is Shannon Cox, a world-class lightweight sculler and former Olympian. Cox narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal this year, but still cements her status as one of New Zealand’s most decorated lightweight rowers. Her expertise and leadership anchor the crew. Joining her is Becky Tuke, a seasoned rower with over a decade of experience and several national titles to her name. Notably, she placed third in the women’s single at the 2020 New Zealand Rowing Champs. Stella Cook, a rising star in the club age category, occupies the stroke seat. Cook claimed gold in the intermediate single at the 2023 NZ Champs, showcasing her skill and growth as a sculler, and she benefits from the opportunity to row alongside elite athletes like Cox.
This crew has the talent and determination to challenge for the top spot. With a blend of youthful energy and veteran experience, they are well-positioned to push Dunstan and other strong competitors. As underdogs, they carry the motivation to upset the field and capitalize on their strengths, making them a crew to watch in this regatta.
Prediction
With only two seconds separating the top three crews at the Canterbury Championships, it is anyone’s guess who will prevail this time around. Canterbury, being led by the steady hand of Olympian Shannon Cox, may have the edge on paper, but Cure has a dark horse factor that cannot be underestimated.
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