Grace Prendergast and Kerri Williams (née Gowler) formed one of the most dominant partnerships in New Zealand rowing history, capturing three world titles and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic crown together in the women’s coxless pair.
Now, in recognition of their achievements, the inaugural Kerri Williams and Grace Prendergast Trophy will be awarded to the winning coach of the Levin Jubilee Cup (Girls’ U18 Eight) crew at the Maadi Regatta.
Here, the golden pair share their thoughts on the introduction of the brand-new trophy at Lake Ruataniwha later this month.
Since 2015, the Peter Irvine Memorial Cup has been awarded to the triumphant coach in the boys’ U18 eight (Maadi Cup) at the Maadi Regatta. Peter himself was an outstanding coach, guiding Wanganui Collegiate to 12 victories in the Maadi Cup during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and the trophy was seen as a fitting tribute to his legacy.
Yet with the growing status and sustained success of women’s rowing in New Zealand, particularly over the past decade, and the prestige of the Levin Jubilee Cup – the girls’ U18 eight at the Maadi Regatta – it seems only fitting that the winning coach is recognised in the same way.
So, when the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rowing Association wanted to honour the coach of the Girls U18 Coxed Eight crew that wins the Levin Jubilee Cup it turned to two of New Zealand’s finest ever oarswomen – Kerri Williams and Grace Prendergast – to name the trophy.
Kerri, who retired from competitive rowing in late 2024 after clinching her third Olympic medal with bronze in the women’s four at the Paris Games, said of having her name attached to the trophy: “Honestly, it is pretty humbling. Rowing is such a team sport and coaching is quite often done quietly in the background, so to have something like this attached to our names is really special. I feel proud and grateful to be recognised in this way in a sport that has meant so much to both of us.”
Grace, who retired from rowing in 2022 after an illustrious career which included two Olympic medals, five World Championship titles and victory in the University Boat Race, said she was “honoured” to have her name attached to the new trophy.
“Having stepped away from rowing a few years ago, it is a privilege to have my name on this trophy, said Grace. “The Maadi Regatta is what helped kick-start my career and I’m especially proud to be recognised alongside Kerri because so much of my career success was achieved with her in the boat.”
St Margaret’s College (Christchurch), the winners of the 2025 Levin Jubilee Cup (Girls U18 Coxed Eight), on the podium with their coaches at the Maadi Regatta. Photo: Picture Show Ltd.
Both Kerri and Grace believe recognising the winning coach of the Levin Jubilee Cup is long overdue, particularly given that for more than a decade the Maadi Cup has acknowledged the winning coach with the Peter Irvine Memorial Cup.
Kerri, who started her rowing career at Nga Tawa Diocesan School, said of the awarding of the new trophy:
“It’s a positive step. The Levin Jubilee Cup is the pinnacle event for schoolgirl rowing in New Zealand, and the level of commitment from the athletes and coaches is enormous. Rowing is built on teamwork, and the premier eight really embodies that. Recognising the coach reflects the amount of work that goes into bringing a crew together and guiding that collective effort.”
Grace supports Kerri’s stance, insisting the visibility of offering such a trophy elevates girls’ rowing and reinforces equal prestige with the boys.
“Women and girls are so often fighting for their place in the spotlight, and it is important that the Levin Jubilee Cup is not just seen as a warm-up race for the boys’ U18 race. This year, with the Levin Jubilee Cup concluding the programme at Maadi, it will further help elevate its status. New Zealand has done well in acknowledging the success of men and women evenly, but to see some remaining discrepancies addressed is special.”
Kerri never personally experience competing for the Levin Jubilee Cup but having competed at the Maadi Regatta she fully understood the magnitude and status of the event.
“I was always in awe of the schools that raced in the women’s U18 eight. At the regatta you could always get a sense of its importance. The atmosphere, the pressure, the excitement — it’s the race everyone wants to be part of. It really is the pinnacle event for schoolgirls’ rowing.”
Grace, however, did experience the Levin Jubilee Cup, reaching the A final for Villa Maria College at the 2009 Maadi Regatta.
“We were never a powerhouse school, so for us to make that final was massive,” she recalls. “I remember we were so excited just to make the final.”
The duo stress that their Maadi Regatta experiences fuelled their passion for the sport and enabled them to achieve their future goals.
Yet both acknowledge the key role their “hugely influential” school rowing coaches played in their rowing journeys.
“They taught me discipline and work ethic, but more importantly, they made me believe that we could compete at the top level,” explains Kerri, who will be present at the 2026 Maadi Regatta in Twizel to present the first Kerri Williams and Grace Prendergast Trophy. “That belief sticks with you. Good coaches don’t just make you faster – they shape how you approach challenges, how you work with others, and how you back yourself.”
For Grace, who is now living in London, her hope is that the trophy will help inspire a long-lasting legacy of coaching excellence.
“My hope is that 20 years from now people will look at the names on the trophy and they will have gone on to coach on the international stage. We have so many talented coaches in New Zealand, but there is still a bridge between coaching domestically and internationally. I would love to see future winners of this trophy alongside athletes selected for New Zealand elite teams.”
Steve Landells is an experienced communications specialist and sportswriter with more than 25 years’ experience. He is currently a proud dad of a rower who competes for St Peter’s College, Auckland.