Individually and together, Philippa Baker-Hogan and Brenda Lawson were world leaders in rowing in the early 1990s. Between them, they won 47 national premier titles and Baker-Hogan became the first female New Zealander to win a world title when she won the lightweight single sculls in 1991.

Lawson, who had been an under 23 world champion, teamed up with Baker for them to win consecutive world double sculls titles in 1993 and 1994, adding a bronze medal in 1995.

They were the New Zealand Sports Team of the Year and the Halberg Award winners in 1994. Baker had earlier won the Sportsman of the Year award (as it was then known) in 1991.

Each of them has also been New Zealand Rower of the Year and Lawson won the Lonsdale Cup for outstanding achievement in an Olympic sport in 1993.