Summer showdown in the Single
Across the grades, the women's single is going to be unmissable at New Zealand Champs.
Last Sunday morning, Isla Westlake was up early and out on the water for a special row on the mighty Clutha River in Central Otago.
Twenty-one kilometres to celebrate her 21st.
She couldn't have picked a better location for this birthday outing.
" I love the water and the mountains," says the sculler who's in her first year of competitive rowing. "The stuff in between doesn't really bother me too much."
Isla moved to Alexandra over the summer to take up an internship as part of the mechanical engineering degree she's doing at Auckland University.
"I was lucky enough to get an internship with Contact Energy at the Clyde Dam," she says. "We have to get practical work hours and as it turns out, Dunstan Arm Rowing Club trains on the lake that feeds into the dam, so it all worked out really well."
For someone with an affinity for the water, it's the perfect total immersion experience.
Isla grew up on the North Shore, went to Rangitoto College, did surf club at Mairangi Bay and Karekare out on Auckland's notorious wild west coast.
"We had some good adventures out there," she says. "It definitely helped me develop good problem-solving skills, strength and teamwork."
She also dipped her toes into kayak on Lake Pupuke where her dad Steve Westlake was rowing out of North Shore.
"It wasn't really until August of 2024 that I decided I'd give rowing a really good nudge. Since then, I've just been training when I can around university."
Her and dad became a pretty common sight on the lake, where the only way to clock up decent uninterrupted miles is to go round, and round, and round again.
Choosing rowing seems inevitable given her parents' sporting pedigree.
Steve and Matt Goodman won the trans-Atlantic race in 2001. Her mum Steph, finished fourth in the same race with former rower Jude Ellis. Two years later, Steve and Matt finished second.
And in just her novice year, Isla's getting results too, with dad and Simon Smith doing the coaching.
She won an impressive trifecta of titles at the South Island Club Champs a couple of weeks ago with victory in the Intermediate, Club and Senior Single.
"I don't really know what to say. I went out and went as fast as I could. I was a bit knackered at the end of the day."
Isla Westlake at the recent South Island Club Champs, where she won the Intermediate, Club and Senior titles in the Single Sculls. PHOTO: Sharron Bennett
She's down to do the same events at her first Nationals.
After that Isla's got a year left on her engineering so it's back home to Auckland.
Maybe there'll be time for 21st celebration with the family. There will definitely be more rowing and plenty of crossover work in the pool and on the bike with her 18-year-old sister.
Family legend has it that Isla got the last 'I' of the fridge magnets when her parents were thinking of baby names. There weren't many letters left when baby number two came along and the best options left to mum and dad were an N, an E, a Y and an R.
Eryn, with a y, is also proving to be a top athlete.
She won the overall title at the Tinman Triathlon at Mt Maunganui in November, a selection event for the world champs this year.
As far as Isla goes, competing in the Premier Single is a definite goal in the future, all going well.
The lineup this year is as strong as it's ever been and surely there's the added incentive of chasing down the spot to be the next Olympic candidate.
Thirteen competitors, each with a story of sculling excellence.
Emma Twigg's back for a start. She's lost count of the number of times she's raced at Nationals. She kicked off a six-year winning run in 2009, reclaimed the title in 2016, went two in a row in 2019 and 2020 and again in 2023 and 2024.
Summer Squad athletes feature heavily, including Alana Sherman, Veronica Wall, Beckie Leigh, Stella Clayton-Greene, and Sophie Egnot-Johnson.
There's also Olivia Hay and Shakira Mirfin, both in the Summer Squad for the first time since returning from University of Washington. Madison Neale's in there rowing out of Simon Smith's hugely successful Dunstan programme, there's Holly Chaafe from West End, who pulled off a big upset to win the Under 22 Single last time the champs were at Karapiro. Otago University RC's Eva Hofmans will be there.
And don't forget defending champion Kathryn Glen, who's well aware of the quality of the field.
" I feel like in past years, there's always been the standout few and then everyone else a bit back," says Kathryn. "It does seem a bit more competitive this year, which is exciting for us and people to watch…I mean, it's going to be pretty hard to get into the final for everyone."
Kathryn Glen, on her way to victory in the Premier Single at Lake Ruataniwha last year. Photo: Picture Show Ltd
Just 14 women have won the title since Lesley Keys became the inaugural winner in 1973.
Kathryn and the rest of the Summer Squad have just come off a big few weeks, culminating in a build three this last one.
"Sometimes you feel a bit hungover after a build three," says Kathryn. "Hopefully we bounce up at the back end of the recovery…but you never know what form you're going to be in on the day…you can only hope you wake up in good nick."
It should make for four days of intense racing. And to add even more interest for every rower from Novice to Premier to Para, make sure you check out row F in the boat park. That's where the Summer Squad will be racking their boats and preparing to race.
And with the repechage system eliminated the pressure is on across the classes to make the most of your opportunities in the heats.
It should make for four days of intense racing.
Andy Hay
Andy Hay is a freelance producer, writer and Maadi Cup-winning coach. He was cox of the world champion New Zealand eight of 1982 and '83. He is NZ Olympian #446.
Share Story
Summer showdown in the Single
Across the grades, the women's single is going to be unmissable at New Zealand Champs.
Last Sunday morning, Isla Westlake was up early and out on the water for a special row on the mighty Clutha River in Central Otago.
Twenty-one kilometres to celebrate her 21st.
She couldn't have picked a better location for this birthday outing.
" I love the water and the mountains," says the sculler who's in her first year of competitive rowing. "The stuff in between doesn't really bother me too much."
Isla moved to Alexandra over the summer to take up an internship as part of the mechanical engineering degree she's doing at Auckland University.
"I was lucky enough to get an internship with Contact Energy at the Clyde Dam," she says. "We have to get practical work hours and as it turns out, Dunstan Arm Rowing Club trains on the lake that feeds into the dam, so it all worked out really well."
For someone with an affinity for the water, it's the perfect total immersion experience.
Isla grew up on the North Shore, went to Rangitoto College, did surf club at Mairangi Bay and Karekare out on Auckland's notorious wild west coast.
"We had some good adventures out there," she says. "It definitely helped me develop good problem-solving skills, strength and teamwork."
She also dipped her toes into kayak on Lake Pupuke where her dad Steve Westlake was rowing out of North Shore.
"It wasn't really until August of 2024 that I decided I'd give rowing a really good nudge. Since then, I've just been training when I can around university."
Her and dad became a pretty common sight on the lake, where the only way to clock up decent uninterrupted miles is to go round, and round, and round again.
Choosing rowing seems inevitable given her parents' sporting pedigree.
Steve and Matt Goodman won the trans-Atlantic race in 2001. Her mum Steph, finished fourth in the same race with former rower Jude Ellis. Two years later, Steve and Matt finished second.
And in just her novice year, Isla's getting results too, with dad and Simon Smith doing the coaching.
She won an impressive trifecta of titles at the South Island Club Champs a couple of weeks ago with victory in the Intermediate, Club and Senior Single.
"I don't really know what to say. I went out and went as fast as I could. I was a bit knackered at the end of the day."
Isla Westlake at the recent South Island Club Champs, where she won the Intermediate, Club and Senior titles in the Single Sculls. PHOTO: Sharron Bennett
She's down to do the same events at her first Nationals.
After that Isla's got a year left on her engineering so it's back home to Auckland.
Maybe there'll be time for 21st celebration with the family. There will definitely be more rowing and plenty of crossover work in the pool and on the bike with her 18-year-old sister.
Family legend has it that Isla got the last 'I' of the fridge magnets when her parents were thinking of baby names. There weren't many letters left when baby number two came along and the best options left to mum and dad were an N, an E, a Y and an R.
Eryn, with a y, is also proving to be a top athlete.
She won the overall title at the Tinman Triathlon at Mt Maunganui in November, a selection event for the world champs this year.
As far as Isla goes, competing in the Premier Single is a definite goal in the future, all going well.
The lineup this year is as strong as it's ever been and surely there's the added incentive of chasing down the spot to be the next Olympic candidate.
Thirteen competitors, each with a story of sculling excellence.
Emma Twigg's back for a start. She's lost count of the number of times she's raced at Nationals. She kicked off a six-year winning run in 2009, reclaimed the title in 2016, went two in a row in 2019 and 2020 and again in 2023 and 2024.
Summer Squad athletes feature heavily, including Alana Sherman, Veronica Wall, Beckie Leigh, Stella Clayton-Greene, and Sophie Egnot-Johnson.
There's also Olivia Hay and Shakira Mirfin, both in the Summer Squad for the first time since returning from University of Washington. Madison Neale's in there rowing out of Simon Smith's hugely successful Dunstan programme, there's Holly Chaafe from West End, who pulled off a big upset to win the Under 22 Single last time the champs were at Karapiro. Otago University RC's Eva Hofmans will be there.
And don't forget defending champion Kathryn Glen, who's well aware of the quality of the field.
" I feel like in past years, there's always been the standout few and then everyone else a bit back," says Kathryn. "It does seem a bit more competitive this year, which is exciting for us and people to watch…I mean, it's going to be pretty hard to get into the final for everyone."
Kathryn Glen, on her way to victory in the Premier Single at Lake Ruataniwha last year. Photo: Picture Show Ltd
Just 14 women have won the title since Lesley Keys became the inaugural winner in 1973.
Kathryn and the rest of the Summer Squad have just come off a big few weeks, culminating in a build three this last one.
"Sometimes you feel a bit hungover after a build three," says Kathryn. "Hopefully we bounce up at the back end of the recovery…but you never know what form you're going to be in on the day…you can only hope you wake up in good nick."
It should make for four days of intense racing. And to add even more interest for every rower from Novice to Premier to Para, make sure you check out row F in the boat park. That's where the Summer Squad will be racking their boats and preparing to race.
And with the repechage system eliminated the pressure is on across the classes to make the most of your opportunities in the heats.
It should make for four days of intense racing.
Andy Hay
Andy Hay is a freelance producer, writer and Maadi Cup-winning coach. He was cox of the world champion New Zealand eight of 1982 and '83. He is NZ Olympian #446.
