2025 Queensland State Championships – Men’s U21 Single Scull Preview

The championship U21 men’s single scull event at the Queensland State Championships will test strength and endurance. A mix of highly skilled competitors and decorated athletes come together to prove their strength. Heats are set to take place at the 2000m course at Queensland State Rowing Centre (QSRC) at 7:00am Friday, and the temperamental course is seemingly calm for this crucial round of racing.

The Contenders

Toowong – Nicholas Barlow

Nicholas Barlow has genuinely shown his strength over the past year. He is a Brisbane State High School graduate, where he was a part of the 2023 first eight and captain of boats. His rowing career has soared to new heights, where in the Australian Rowing Championships 2024 (ARC24), he came a respectable sixth place in the championship men’s U21 single scull A-final and second in the championship U21 men’s quad scull. He landed a place in the Australian U21 rowing team and won a victory in the Trans Tasman Regatta for their third consecutive year. In the previous 2024 Queensland State Championship Regatta, he took home third place in the championship U21 men’s single scull. So, we are sure that he is looking to take a higher podium placing at this year’s event, especially with his vast depth of knowledge on both racing and the course.

Uni of Qld – Samuel Forbes

Samuel Forbes is a highly experienced rower who will be bringing international racing experience onto the course this weekend. He competed at the 2024 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Genoa, Italy, where he placed second in the U19 mixed double sculls and raced in the U19 men’s double sculls whilst also receiving the Australian Rowing Beach Sprint Crew of The Year. At the 2024 Australian National Championships (ARC24), he joined Thomas Steven in the U19 men’s coxless four, U19 men’s pair, and the Queensland Inter-State men’s youth eight. At the 2024 Queensland State Championships, Forbes placed tenth in the championship U21 men’s single scull. Over the course of the year, we have seen Forbes slowly becoming faster and stronger in the boat and we expect him to perform well this weekend.

Uni of Qld – Thomas Stevens

Thomas Stevens has been a strong competitor since his schoolboy days, taking home gold in the championship U17 men’s single scull at the Australian Rowing Championships 2022 for Brisbane Boys College when in year 11. In 2024 at the Australian Rowing Championships, Stevens placed first in the championship U19 men’s coxless four and the championship U19 men’s pair whilst also helping bring home the silver for Queensland in the Interstate men’s youth eights. In the 2024 Queensland State Championships, Thomas secured seventh place in the championship U21 men’s single scull. Over the year, he has clearly shown that he has the speed to perform; the question is, will he do the same at this regatta?

Brisbane State High School/Commercial – Eoghan Johnson

Eoghan Johnson has developed as a racer with exceptional speed, as well as being a part of the comeback of the Brisbane State High Open First Eight. Last year, in the championship men’s U19 single scull event at the 2024 Queensland State Championships, he placed tenth in the final. He then continued into March at ARC24 where he placed second in the B-final of the schoolboy single scull and seventh in the schoolboy double scull A-final. By July, at the South Queensland Schools’ States, Johnson placed first in the schoolboy single scull by 12 seconds. At the Queensland School’s State Championships, Johnson placed first again in the schoolboy single scull, only this time by 18 seconds. He is a tough competitor and might even be a challenge to the broader field this weekend.

Youfor2032 – Mac Rogers

Mac Rogers is an unforeseen competitor to this course, having been picked up by the YouFor2032 campaign which started at the beginning of 2023 in the hope of unearthing Queensland’s talent for the 2032 Olympic Games. This athlete has been seen racing before, and it is unknown how he will compare to the experienced racers. His selection dictates that there must be some unseen speed though. This wild card may surprise everyone and take a podium place from unsuspecting competitors.

Prediction

This event will surely be a spectacle, with many ranges of experience and strength appearing on the line-up. Nicholas Barlow the U21 Australian rower and previous podium finisher in this race, is arguably the frontrunner, alongside Samuel Forbes and Thomas Stevens.

Podium Prediction:

Toowong – Nicholas Barlow

Uni of Qld – Samuel Forbes

Uni of Qld – Thomas Stevens

About The Author

G.C

See author's posts