“We’re out there [rowing] because we love it,” van Dam said. The four women raced together in the 1980s but disbanded in 1989 for various reasons. Thirty years passed before they reunited to resume competing in 2019. The Invercargill Rowing Club, at which van Dam is club captain, achieved good results at the South Island Championships.
Steve McArthur
Invercargill Rowing Club members Ciccone Tweedie, front, and Roisin Laphen at the South Island Championships in Twizel recently. The club had 21 rowers competing over 25 events. They made 23 finals and returned home with 11 medals – two gold, five silver and four bronze. In addition to Kristen Froude’s two gold medals, other highlights for the club included Shakira Mirfin’s silver medal in the women’s premier singles and the novice quad combination of Laura Dennis, Stacey Dennison, Maddison Booth and Caitlin Te Tai landing a silver.