Dunstan Arm Rowing Club (DARC) has returned home from the 2024 South Island Champs in Twizel with a haul of 26 medals.

That effort is the club's best ever, which head coach Simon Smith described as "absolutely outstanding".

Simon attended the event with 45 athletes who were confronted with bad weather on Saturday, January 27, which caused cancellations.

“It was frustrating in regards to wind. Saturday was a complete blowout with only about three races held.”

Sunday’s conditions were calm with all the heats raced and medals taken off times.

“It was our first decent row all season, one day of flat water makes everything better.”

Simon said medals won by DARC were 11 gold, 11 silver and 4 bronze.

“We performed well in women's and men’s premier and senior sculling, our New Zealand development hub is going well. We medalled through all the classes . . . I was so proud of everyone.”

Freddy Todhunter in the women's senior single scull, where she won a gold. PHOTO: Sharron Bennett Photography

DARC will now focus on the National Championships in Lake Karapiro in two weeks' time.

“Even if it’s windy, we’ve been training in the rough. We’re excited to take the club and see how we go against some of the strong North Island crews,” Simon said.

He said in sculling (with two oars per person) their fiercest competition looks to be clubs from Waikato and Auckland and in sweeping (rowing with only one oar) rowing stalwarts Avon from Christchurch were a strong club.

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