Thirty-four athletes have been invited into the Rowing NZ Summer Squad for the 2026-27 season, drawn from clubs spanning Invercargill to Hauraki Plains, with many combining the national programme with university rowing in the United States.
The women's group of 18 is anchored largely around Waikato Rowing Club, which contributes Alana Sherman, Brooke Francis, Ella Cossill, Eva Hofmans, Isla Blake, Kate Haines, Katherine Lush, and Sophie Egnot-Johnson. Cossill is based at the University of Washington; Blake at the University of San Diego.
The American university connections run deep across the squad. Alice Fahey and Megan Flanagan are both rowing for the University of Tennessee, Rebecca Leigh brings a Stanford connection, and Veronica Wall is at Yale. Shakira Mirfin, from Invercargill Rowing Club, also holds a University of Washington commitment.
Regional spread is strong. Kathryn Glen comes through Avon Rowing Club, Lucy Spoors from Canterbury, Stella Clayton-Greene from Hauraki Plains Rowing Club, Olivia Hay from North Shore Rowing Club, and Juliette Lequeux from Otago University Rowing Club.
The men's 16 follow a similar pattern. Waikato is again well represented through Campbell Crouch, Finn Hamill, Josh Vodanovich, Logan Ullrich, and Oscar Ruston. Avon supplies Ben Mason, Ben Taylor, and Oliver Welch, while North Shore contributes Matthew Macdonald and Oliver Maclean, Maclean based at the University of California, Berkeley.
West End Rowing Club pair Benjamin Shortt and Harry Fitzpatrick are both at the University of Washington. Arie Rasmussen Magasiva of Star Boating Club is at the University of Auckland, Fred Vavasour from Wairau Rowing Club and Phillip Wilson from Petone Rowing Club are both at the University of Otago, and Thomas Murray from Blenheim Rowing Club rounds out the group.
Then there is the small matter of getting everyone on the water.
Athletes not selected in the 2026 World Championships team report to the Colgan High Performance Centre on 31 August, working under coach Calvin Ferguson, having completed a prescribed independent training block from 17 to 30 August. World Championships squad members return later, finishing their own prescribed block from 14 September before coming back to the centre on 28 September.
Acceptances are due to Lisa Holton by Monday 17 August.
