Previewing the 2026 North Island Rowing Championships: Women’s Senior Quads

What will the pointy end of the 2026 season bring for some of the finest female scullers in the country? As the title is given to the North Island Champion in the Women’s Senior Quad, we will have a better understanding. We got a taste of things at the Christmas Regatta, but how did these ladies spend their Christmas break? Time to delve into the swinging sticks of school-age crews and club crews. Although not a hugely contested event at the Christmas Regatta, I anticipate that, with the potential for silverware, it will be much more hotly contested. Waikato Rowing Club Female or male, one blade or two, it doesn’t matter what event it is — if there is a Waikato crew entered, it is best to be on the lookout. The Women’s Senior Quad is no different; the crew coming out of Waikato is one to watch. Coming down the course earlier in the season at the Christmas Regatta, the crew in the tri-coloured row suits performed commendably with a solid second-place finish in this event. Looking to go one better and leave as North Island Champions, these ladies will have had to put in the work over their Christmas break. There are two ladies in this quad whom I would have an eye on during this regatta: Angalla Carney and Sasha Robinson. Robinson had a very strong Christmas Regatta, finishing in the top three in each of her three finals, showing her prowess as a sweeper as well. She will be looking to find this speed again, not only in the Senior Quad, but also in the Senior Double and the Open Eight. Angalla Carney is a name to watch out for not only at this regatta but also for the future. Coming off an impressive campaign with the New Zealand Juniors in the Junior Women’s Quad, Carney has taken to open-aged racing beautifully. Carney joined Robinson in both the Open Quad and the Open Eight, whilst also showing she can compete with the elites with a performance she should be proud of in the Elite Single. Carney is a name to keep an eye on for future honours in the black row suit. This Waikato quad will be swinging beautifully down Lake Karapiro, and I expect them to find some more speed here and be right amongst those battling for the podium come finals day. Star Boating Club Home to one of New Zealand’s finest scullers of recent times, Jackie Kiddle, Star Boating Club has a pedigree to uphold. Coming up from Wellington, this quadruple will be looking to show everyone what they are made of and leave the Waikato as North Island Champions. Star put on a show in the Women’s Open Quad last month and will be reminding their competition of that come this regatta. This Star Boating Club crew is a symphony of youth and experience, and when they hit their straps, they will be hard to beat. Tessa Thomson and Sophie Jones may be at opposite ends of the boat, but these two will be the glue holding this crew together as they glide down Karapiro. Jones, in the stroke seat, is a young sculler who has shown her skills in the U18 Single, U18 Double, and the Women’s Open Quad, and will be looking to gain some knowledge and silverware with this crew at the North Island Championships. She has already upset a few at the Christmas Regatta, even showing her fellow Star members how it is done in the U18 sculling events. She will be sure to keep her rhythm flowing and her crew in front in the Women’s Senior Quad. The bow seat, who is so eloquently controlling this crew down Lake Karapiro, is Tessa Thomson. Thomson also had an excellent Christmas Regatta, finishing first in both the Open Quad and the Club Double, third in the Club Single, and a very competitive fifth in the Club Eight. Thomson provides this crew with the experience to carry them over the line. Look out, the rest of the field — the Star crew is one to beat. West End Rowing Club Out of Auckland comes West End Rowing Club. Although they did not race the Senior category earlier in the season, I would definitely keep an eye out for a West End crew heating up this event at the North Island Championships. Coming off a comprehensive victory in the Club Quad at the Christmas Regatta, I could see West End eyeing off the prestige of the Senior Quad and licking their lips. West End have one of the finest school-age scullers of the past decade in the middle of their quad in the form of Jasmine Brake. Brake developed her craft on the Tāmaki Estuary with Glendowie College before a brief stint in Cambridge and then heading stateside for college. After a few years away from the sport on New Zealand waters, Brake has come back to make a splash. A victory in both the Club Quad and the Senior Double was linked to a strong third-place finish in the Club Double, all before the Christmas break. Brake will be looking to continue where she left off. Back on the waters where she honed her craft, Jasmine will be striving towards her first piece of North Island Club Championships silverware since 2017. With the potential of entering this event, West End could bolster their quad with the inclusion of premier sculler Holly Chaafe, who partnered Brake in the Senior Double last month. Milan Teinakore sits behind Brake in the quad and the Club Double, and I believe these two will be powering this crew on come finals day. Apart from her impressive performances with Brake at the Christmas Regatta, Teinakore also had a strong showing in the Women’s Club Single, finishing just behind the aforementioned Tessa Thomson in fifth. These two could have a battle across a few events at these championships. Already a favourite for the Club Quad, I would keep an eye out for the white and black row suits of West End if they are also to have a red-hot crack at the Senior Quad. Notable Mentions With the potential for a wide range of entries into this event, there are a few more crews that I would keep your binoculars on when they come down Lake Karapiro at these championships. A couple of school crews I would fancy if they enter would be Cambridge High School and King’s College, while two club crews would be Aramaho Wanganui and North Shore. These four crews have proven their worth in other events and could all upset a few if they are to enter this event. Predictions