Jackie Kiddle
Jackie Kiddle started her rowing career at Wellington Girls' College under Star Boating Club in 2008. She was competitive throughout her school career, winning an Aon Maadi Cup Gold in the U18 girl's double in 2012 and switched to lightweight rowing after high school.
She competed as part of the U21 trans-Tasman team in 2012 and 2013 with great success. In 2014 Jackie was selected in the New Zealand U23 team and placed a close 4th in the Lightweight Single Sculls in Varese, Italy. She then teamed up with Zoe McBride in 2015 to win the U23 Lightweight Double Sculls in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. In 2016 Jackie took on the same event, this time with Lucy Jonas, to win Silver. Across 2017 and 2018 Jackie won multiple World Rowing Cup Golds in the Lightweight Women's Single and Double (with Zoe McBride), and a Silver with McBride at the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota, Florida. Jackie showed her intentions early in 2019, winning the Premier Lightweight Single Sculls at the Rocket Foods New Zealand Rowing Championships. At World Rowing Cup II Jackie teamed up again with Zoe McBride in the Lightweight Women's Double and went through the regatta undefeated. The duo continued their golden run right through World Rowing Cup III and capped off an incredible year with a World Rowing Championship Gold and a new World Rowing Championships best time.
During lockdown in 2020, Jackie set a new World Record on the Concept 2 erg for Lightweight Women over 5km. World Rowing Cup III, 2022 was the first time a New Zealand Women's Lightweight boat had lined up at an international event since 2019. This saw Jackie team up with new partner Rachael Kennedy, with the duo placing 3rd in the B final at World Rowing Cup III. At the 2022 World Rowing Championship in Racice, Czech Republic, Jackie doubled up and raced the Lightweight Double with Rachel, as well as the Lightweight Single. Jackie performed with a very impressive result, coming away with Bronze in the Women’s Lightweight Single. The duo of Jackie and Rachel placed also 3rd in the B-Final in the competitive Lightweight Double field. Jackie was also part of the small group of Coastal Rowers that competed over in Saundersfoot, Wales in 2022, coming away with some silverware.
Jackie has now been named in the 2023 Elite Lightweight Women’s Double with a new partner, Shannon Cox, which has been pre-selected to race at World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland. It is a very exciting boat to watch, as she is in search of an Olympic Qualification spot, and also to get her title back at the 2023 World Rowing Championships later this year in Belgrade, Serbia. The duo claimed 6th place in the A-Final at the 2023 World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland - which is a spectacular result for the new combination with a heap of potential.
Outside of rowing, Jackie has completed a BSc in Animal Behaviour and an MSc (Research) in Ecology and Biodiversity from the University of Waikato. Jackie works as a part-time photographer and graphic designer, and enjoys horse riding in her spare time. She’s also pretty good at Mario Kart!