A “phenomenal performance” by Dunstan Arm Rowing Club (DARC) led to 19 medals throughout the grades at the New Zealand Rowing Championships at Lake Ruataniwha, near Twizel last week.

Head coach Simon Smith said the results were amazing and he was blown away by the strong performances of athletes in the sculling events.

Dunstan Arm placed second in the Centennial Scull, awarded for sculling behind Waikato Rowing Club. 

In the Centennial Oar for overall champion club DARC was third, beaten by Waikato and Avon.

Four in the boat who won a gold are (from left) Henry Clatworthy, Matthew O’Meara, Mathew King and Sam Barnett. PHOTO: Rowing New Zealand

“It’s fantastic to pull it off at top events… especially against clubs like Waikato that are three times bigger than us,” Simon said.

On the podium the men’s senior coxless quad crew and Simon Smith. PHOTO: Rowing New Zealand 

Golds were won in the women's club double sculls of Bella Breen and Olivia Ollerenshaw, women's club coxless quad sculls crew of Bella Breen, Olivia Ollerenshaw, India Nichols and Maggie Hepburn, men's senior double sculls of Henry Clatworthy and Matthew O’Meara,

men's senior coxless quad sculls crew of Henry Clatworthy, Matthew O’Meara, Sam Barnett and Mathew King, men’s club coxless quad sculls crew of Harrison Thods, Roland Ozanne, Oliver Hamilton and Jelte Stuke and Olivia Key was also a part of winning women’s premier

coxless quad crew that finished in first spot. 

DARC’s Mat King won silver in the under 22 single, behind Waikato’s Oscar Ruston (at back). PHOTO: Sharron Bennett Photography

DARC’s Olivia Key won a red coat for her premier win in a combined crew (premier is the highest ability level in New Zealand). PHOTO: Rowing New Zealand  

The club took 58 athletes to NZ Rowing Champs this year - a larger squad than last year.

It was a chance to build experience for rowing novices and to fulfil the boat holder role for the regatta. 

Simon said every few years DARC takes a turn boat holding, and it was a vital fundraiser netting them $10,000+ gst.

“It was a huge week, we had parents, siblings, athletes all rallying together to get it done.”

The New Zealand Rowing Championships is the club championship regatta, held alternatively between Lake Karāpiro and Lake Ruataniwha each February.

It was first held in 1888 where a four race was held in Whanganui and a single sculls race was held in Wellington. 

The 2025 NZ Rowing Champs on February 18- 22 involved more than 760 athletes and 100 coaches and culminated in finals on Friday and Saturday.

The South Island Secondary Schools (SISS) Championships are next for school age rowers (March 7-9) at Lake Ruataniwha, followed by the Maadi Regatta (March 24 -29), held at Lake Karapiro near Cambridge this year. 

Simon said six DARC athletes were selected for New Zealand team trials; in men's under 23 Henry Clatworthy, Mathew King, and Jack Pearson and in women’s under 22 the three trialists would be India Nichol, Olivia Key and Emma Spittle. 

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