12 rowers, two races, three hours. That is the scenario facing the women’s U21 single scullers at this year’s Small Boats Regatta. With just three hours separating the heats from the finals, there’s plenty of pressure on the rowers. Mind you, plenty of them have shown they can deal with that pressure in the past.
Sydney University
Australian junior representative Alexandra O’Brien headlines this event’s four-strong Sydney University contingent. She won this event at December’s Reindeer Regatta, along with the women’s U21 eight and A/B quad. She was joined in the latter two crews by Georgina Stevenson and Alice Macready, with Macready also finishing third in this event and Stevenson first in division two of the U19 singles.
One rower not at Reindeer but at last year’s time trials was Addison Roles. Roles, Stevenson and O’Brien all had remarkably similar results throughout the series, making the heat one match-up between the three one to watch.
Sydney
Former Adelaide University rower Victoria Binns pulls on the light blue of Sydney this weekend, along with Georgia Allen and Neve Tierney. None have raced much this year, although Allen recorded reasonable results at the last two time trials. Binns raced in South Australia’s Queen’s Cup crew in 2024 despite still being eligible for the U21 youth eights.
Glebe
Last year, Glebe’s Lucy Yabsley made her Australian debut in the U19 quad sculls. She also teamed with Patricia Boland to win the U19 double at the recent Reindeer Regatta, giving them both a boost to finish the year. There hasn’t been much to separate the two in the recent time trial series, adding plenty of intrigue to Heat two. They’re also rowing together in the U19 double an hour earlier, so that extra effort may make qualification tricky in a strong field.
Other clubs
It’s doubtful anyone returned from the Taree Summer Regatta with more gold than UTS’ Leila Gaston. Gaston won golds in the U21, U23 and A singles, the women’s A four and quad, and the mixed A eights. Nepean’s Olivia Harris wasn’t far behind, though, with golds in the B single, U23 double and B quad, wins in division two of the B and C doubles and in the U23 single, and silvers in the U21 single and B four.
Elyse Coates pulls on Mosman’s red and white stripes in what will be a hectic day for her. Heat two is her second race of the day, with the U19 double and single heats less than an hour before and after. While the reigning U17 national champion, the extra racing and step up in the age category may be her undoing this time.
Prediction
Who to pick from a tight field? Those stepping up from U17 and U19 may find the competition too hot this time, although the experience will set them up nicely for the future. I’m going with Sydney University’s Alexandra O’Brien to take gold ahead of Georgia Allen and Leila Gaston.
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