In some regions, the first regatta of the calendar year is regarded as an opening hit-out, a speed check after a long holiday training camp. Whilst this can be true in NSW, in the U21 category, the Small Boats Regatta is a make-or-break event. NSW State Team selectors will be keenly watching to form seat-racing squads for the youth eights that will race on Interstate Sunday at nationals in March.
The NSW Selection Policy states:
“The seat racing squad will be comprised of the first three ranked eligible crews in the U21 2- and first and second ranked eligible athletes in the U21 1x. Selection of the remaining positions will be at the sole discretion of the crew coach and selectors, based on the results of the U21 1x, U21 2x, U23 2- and ergometer testing”
Although officially, only two spots are up for grabs, in years with good sculling depth, up to four athletes have been invited to these trials. Given the quality of this field, I’d expect to see a few athletes putting themselves in a position where selectors would be unable to ignore them.
Jack Power – UTS Haberfield Rowing Club
One athlete who is very familiar to those who have been following the NSW youth scene for the past few years is Jack Power. The Saint Ignatius College alumni has been a regular feature at the pointy end of U21 racing in the state for some time; however, he was unlucky to miss out on NSW selection in 2024’s victorious men’s youth eight. Performances this year, however, have set Jack up for a strong showing at the first selection event of the season. December’s Reindeer Regatta saw a dominant win, followed up two weeks later by posting the second-fastest U21 time in the final time trial of the year. It will have been frustrating to miss the chance to compete in such an incredible race at last year’s Interstate Regatta, and no doubt Jack is looking to cement his spot in blue this year.
Will Rogers – Sydney University Boat Club
One of the younger U21s in the field, having only graduated last year, is Will Rogers. The 2024 Australian U19 sculler will take to the racecourse at Small Boats for the first time since his sixth-place result in St Catherines last year. Having spent the entirety of last winter in the single scull off the back of three successful years in The King’s School first VIII, Will certainly has the edge over his competition regarding single sculling experience. Despite the break from racing over the past few months, it’s hard to picture this race ending without Will at the sharp end of it.
Jimmy Harlow – Sydney Rowing Club
One of many British imports to the Abbotsford club, Jimmy Harlow has certainly made his arrival on the Australian scene well-known to onlookers. Despite not being eligible for NSW selection, Jimmy brings a wealth of experience that has him well-placed to challenge for the win. A win at Henley Royal Regatta and a spot in the bow of the British junior men’s quad last year make him one of the most experienced scullers in this field. Jimmy also posted the quickest time in the U21 field at the December trial to prove his talent is not limited to crew-boat-rowing. Expect a challenge for the lead here from the young Brit.
Tobias Elias – Mosman Rowing Club
Another first-year-U21, Tobias Elias has been slowly working his way up the ranks of junior sculling within a revitalised Mosman Rowing Club program. The Northern Beaches local was there or thereabouts last year, claiming a silver in the schoolboy double at the national championships before claiming a sensational victory in the pathway quads for NSW at the end of the season. I’m sure this first taste of victory in NSW blue has motivated Tobias, who has undoubtedly received some interstate wisdom from coaches Tom Schramko and Rowena Meredith, who have both tasted success for the Waratah state. This race will be a significant step up for him, but his time trial results suggest he has the raw speed to compete at the front.
Prediction
This is set to be a cracking race. Such depth in the field at this stage of the season is an ominous warning to any other states looking to snatch the Noel F. Wilkinson Trophy from NSW for what would only be the third time in the past 14 years. Despite substantial challenges, I expect Will Rogers to take line honours in this one, closely followed by Jimmy Harlow. The tussle for third could go either way, but the experience of Jack Power should be enough just to edge out Tobias Elias.
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