Photo Credit: Rowing NSW
In the last women’s race of the weekend, the elite quad scull frequently struggles to draw a large entry, although what it lacks in filled lanes on the course, it makes up for in a close battle for the gold medal between the state’s top high-performance clubs.
ANU Boat Club (ACT)
The entry from ANU contains half of last year’s bronze medal combination, with Alex Moylan and Catherine Khan returning, rejoined by Ellora Kelly who raced in the 2023 iteration of the crew, also snatching the bronze. Hannah Tippett, a Tasmanian native, will add to the crew’s experience. Khan, Kelly, and Moylan will be determined to better the club’s bronze medal streak, particularly with Khan rising in the domestic sculling ranks of late. This quartet are certainly in a strong position to challenge their historic results.
Sydney Rowing Club
The battle for the championship in this event has often come down to the two giants of Sydney metro rowing—Sydney Rowing Club against Sydney University. This year is shaping up to be no different, with Sydney entering a combination of hard-hitting, tried and tested athletes with international experience to back them up. Grace Sypher returns for her first race of the season since being crowned world champion in the U23 lightweight single scull for what is undoubtedly her most conservative state championships program in years, racing only the quad and double. Her effective power and racing ability is a definite asset, supported by Caitlin McManus-Barrett, who also returns from a campaign in the women’s four, which earned her a bronze medal at last year’s U23 World Rowing Championships. Two imports make up the stern end of the boat; Ella Spaulding joins the crew from Tasmania, alongside Amelia Pillar who comes to the club after years of success at Henley Royal Regatta and Henley Women’s for Leander Club. Sydney will be eager to use this powerhouse crew to retain the championship.
Sydney University Boat Club
Having only come out on top once in this event from the last three match-ups against their biggest rivals, Sydney University Boat Club will be eager to see if they can topple them again on Sunday. Eleanor Price will step into the stroke seat of her home club’s crew after weeks away at the National Training Centre in Penrith, supported by the experience of club stalwarts Jaime Ford and Sophia Wightman. Wightman and Ford both bring plenty of international experience, Ford having spent last year’s English summer racing for Leander Club, and Wightman representing Australia at the World University Championships in the double. The final piece of what could be Sydney University’s first winning combination in two years is Aisling Hayes, native to Skibbereen Rowing Club and the latest addition to the Sprint Eliminator qualifications. She joins the club from the other side of the globe with plenty of power and racing reliability to her name, claiming gold in the intermediate single at the Irish Rowing Championships.
University of Queensland Boat Club (QLD)
The only other interstate entry in this event, the University of Queensland crew return to Penrith with their first entry in this event for several years, and in doing so, return with a particularly familiar name; Wallis Russel rejoins the racing circuit after a sabbatical away from the sport. Russel is a massive asset to the crew, with years of international racing experience that will undoubtedly support the boat even after time away from the oars. Elizabeth Newell brings representative welcome experience too, appearing in last year’s World Coastal and Beach Sprints Championship team, skills that could prove incredibly useful as this event is often subject to changing winds in the late afternoon. Elly Ready and North Queensland’s Sarah Bourke will aid the crew with plenty of kilometres worth of racing experience at SIRC in their legs.
Prediction
The race for bragging rights between Sydney Rowing Club and Sydney University will be incredible to watch, and both HP Pathway clubs will have their eyes firmly on the championship trophy. In previous years, it has, however, been more clear cut between the home crews and their interstate competition, whereas this year it may not prove so easy. Khan’s rapid improvements in the sculling scene make it hard to discount ANU from pushing the top two medal positions. I would expect a close race to close out the program, with the Sydney boat just maintaining its grasp on the gold.
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