JRN is thrilled to announce the creation of Rowing Down Under, a brand new podcast covering the road up to and including the Australian National Championships on Lake Barrington, Tasmania.
Rowing Down Under joins JRN’s expanding podcast portfolio, including the world-renowned flagship show The End of The Island, recently shortlisted at the Sports Podcast Awards for ‘Best Olympic and Paralympic Podcast’.
Hosted by Chris McCarthy and Stuart John, Rowing Down Under will feature interviews and plenty of racing analysis as Australia builds towards the season’s crescendo from 24 – 30 March.
The host of the Podcast, Chris McCarthy, has been involved in the sport of rowing as an athlete and coach since 2012. McCarthy now finds himself more at home in the finish tower, commentating on major Australian regattas since 2019. A journalism student, McCarthy joined the JRN team in 2024, covering all things Australian rowing.
Co-host Stuart John is a former journalist and tour guide. He’s swapped the tour bus for the commentary box, though, covering major Australian regattas since 2021. He made his World Rowing commentary debut in 2024 and joined the JRN team that same year. John can be found on the water as part of the Australian Capital Territory and para-rowing communities after initially coming across the sport while working as a rowing administrator.
Speaking ahead of the launch of Rowing Down Under, Stuart was very excited about the new venture.
“We created the podcast to help improve coverage of the sport,” he explained. “With each Australian state running its own championships and major schools regattas, there’s plenty of stories and achievements out there waiting to be told.
“The next few months will be fascinating to watch. With a new-look Australian team expected and the lure of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics on the horizon, we’re expecting some new names to grab their chance and make names for themselves.
“Locally, the ACT Junior Championships and Head of the Lake are always a fun weekend to cover. There’s been a steady trickle of Australian junior representatives from Canberra; is the next one racing this March on the waters of Lake Burley Griffin?”
McCarthy was equally eager to get started.
“Australian rowing has continued to grow year on year. At each regatta, there are more competitors, parents, and supporters,” he explained.
“In 2024, JRN launched our Australian coverage and was welcomed with open arms by the Australian rowing community. So much so, we wanted to cover as many regattas around the country as possible to tell the stories of the athletes preparing for the national championships in Tasmania. With that, Rowing Down Under was born.
“The 2025 racing season is looking to be an absolute corker. With wide-open school championships, refreshed club and under 21 racing schedules, and new-look state and national teams, Rowing Down Under will have something new every week.”
JRN’s Global Head of Podcasts Fergus Mainland welcomed Rowing Down Under to the expanding podcast offering.
“I’m incredibly excited to grow our podcast portfolio,” he said. “After a record-breaking year for JRN, I’m thrilled to see our coverage continue to go from strength to strength.
“It’s been brilliant to see our coverage be so well received in Australia and I’m sure that in the safe hands of Chris and Stuart, Rowing Down Under will have a similar reception
The launch of Rowing Down Under strengthens JRN’s commitment to being the foremost platform for rowing news worldwide. After covering every stroke of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic regattas, JRN announced an unprecedented expansion of coverage, providing in-depth analysis and previews for rowing in the United Kingdom, United States of America, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and The Netherlands, with the latter including articles in English and Dutch.
JRN and Rowing Down Under are thrilled to have the support of SL Racing through this inaugural season.
SL Racing, are all about one thing—performance you can count on. With a proven track record of helping rowers achieve success, SL Racing delivers precision-engineered boats that consistently perform at the highest level.
Proudly designed and made in New Zealand, the team continually innovates and refines hull designs and rigging to give you the winning edge. They may not be the biggest, but their commitment to quality and excellence shines through—delivering top-tier rowing boats trusted by champions worldwide.
If you’re serious about winning, trust SL Racing, where reliability meets the water.
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