The New South Wales Rowing Championships is one of the most critical dates in the calendar for Australian rowers in the summer season. Known across the country as a “Mini Nationals”, this is where some of the country’s top athletes enter as a practice run before the real thing, where young athletes ease themselves into the realities of high-level racing, and the seasoned return to test their abilities in the crunch time before another tilt at national glory.
The schoolboy single sculls are sure to put on a show. Each athlete is desperate to show their worth to the racing world outside of the confines of school regattas. These boys have been training for the win for the past five years, and the New South Wales Rowing Championships is another opportunity to show their steel.
Friends – Henry Maning
Henry Manning is a decorated athlete from many of his previous sculling exploits. At the Tasmanian State Club Regattas, racing in the U19 men’s single scull, Maning stepped up to the podium in every race, including both the U19 men’s single sculls, where he goes undefeated, alongside the senior/U23/U21 men’s single scull. Maning is a knowledgeable athlete in all regards and I believe he will be hoping to take home some more silverware at this regatta.
Radford College – Joshua Miller
Joshua Miller has been collecting many podium placements in his recent sculling races. He was first in the Grade B single scull, division one at the Marist/CGGS Regatta on his home waters in the Australian Capital Territory. He also took second in both the men’s Grade B single scull at the ADF/CGS Masters Regatta and the ADF Regatta, as well as third in the Grade B men’s single scull, division one at the Daramalan/BMRC Regatta. Miller has much knowledge of the water after a multitude of races in the scull. He must bring his A-game to the Sydney International Regatta Centre to topple the roster though.
Glebe – Josh Dallimore
With not much racing under his belt, Josh Dallimore has a range of results to show for his efforts so far. Being on the cusp of securing a podium many times, he has only made the top step a select few times. He won at the Neapan Head Regatta #2 and placed third at the New South Wales All Schools Regatta in the schoolboy single scull, whilst finishing fifth at the 2024 New South Wales Schoolboy Head of the River and fourth at the Leichhardt Rowing Club Regatta in the men’s A/B Grade single scull. He has been gaining valuable experience in his racing, and maybe this regatta will be a good opportunity for Dallimore to take the podium.
Canberra Grammar
While the name of the athlete is unknown to the competition, what is known is that Canberra Grammar has been known to create formidable athletes. There is no doubt that the athletes for this year’s regatta will be no different, and they will be sure to create a challenge for the rest of the roster.
Kinross Wolaroi
Taking the same decision as Canberra Grammar, Kinross Wolaroi School has chosen to leave their athletes unknown to the rest of the field. Over the past few years, Kinross Wolaroi has truly shown its dominance across the waters at SIRC, and I am sure that this year, the athletes they will be placing into this race will be no different.
Prediction
This event will surely be a spectacle, with a range of experience and strength appearing on the line-up, as well as a handful of unknown competitors from some of the strongest schools. Henry Maning is a decorated rower in his own right, attaining many golds in the past few months. He is arguably the frontrunner, alongside Joshua Miller and the unknown Canberra Grammar rower.
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