2026 Rowing NSW Sprint Eliminator
The Rowing NSW Sprint Eliminator makes its much-anticipated return in 2026. You can find all the details on this page.
The 2026 Sprint Eliminator was a massive success, with double the prize money on offer and electric racing on both days. Thank you to our anonymous donor from a rowing family for once again supporting the Eliminator - this support is invaluable and helps bring the best athletes in the world to the 250m start line at SIRC. Additional thanks go to the event's Supporting Partner, Zhik.
Giorgia Patten proved she's the best from the West in the women's race, taking down Emma Twigg and Romy Cantwell and giving us a completely different podium from last year. Hamish Danks became the first ever double champ in the men's race, holding off Marcus Della Marta and Paddy Holt in dominant fashion to go back-to-back.
Women's Race
Men's Race
The Women's Sprint Eliminator will be held during the lunch break of the 2026 Schoolgirl Head of the River on 14 March 2026.
The Men's Sprint Eliminator will be held during the lunch break of the 2026 Schoolboy Head of the River on 15 March 2026.
The Rowing NSW Sprint Eliminator is a set of 250-metre races.
Nine athletes contest the first race, and whoever finishes last is eliminated.
There are five minutes between races - anyone not ready for the next race is eliminated.
Racing continues, with last place being eliminated each time, until two athletes are left.
This means the top two athletes will race a total of eight times, or 2km total.
The winner of the final race wins the Sprint Eliminator.
There are 9 athletes for each gender:
1 defending champion - last year's female and male champions return.
6 Rowing NSW selections - these are marquee, high-performance athletes.
1 qualifier from the CDRA Sprint Championships regatta (9 November 2025) - a qualifying race specifically for the Sprint Eliminator will be held, with the top finisher for each gender qualifying
1 qualifier from the RNSW Sprint Championships regatta (30 November 2025) - a 500m qualifying race specifically for the Sprint Eliminator will be held, with the top finisher for each gender qualifying
The field of athletes will be updated here as it is announced:
| Women's Race |
| Bella Scammell |
| Tara Rigney |
| Romy Cantwell |
| Kate Atherton (CDRA Sprints Qualifier) |
| Lucy Spoors |
| Niki Lopresti (RNSW Sprints Qualifier) |
| Emma Twigg |
| Giorgia Patten |
| Laura Gourley |
| Men's Race |
| Hamish Danks |
| Paddy Holt |
| Will Rogers |
| Pat Burke (CDRA Sprints Qualifier) |
| Matt Dunham |
| Henry Blackwell (RNSW Sprints Qualifier) |
| Jack Cleary |
| Marcus Della Marta |
| Dan Johnston |
For each gender, the prizes are as follows:
1st Place - $10,000
2nd Place - $4,000
3rd Place - $3,000
4th through 9th Place - $250
How can I watch the Rowing NSW Sprint Eliminator live?
The races will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel, and we'll have wall-to-wall coverage on all our socials.
Who can enter the Sprint Eliminator?
Anyone can qualify via the qualifying races, whether you're a Masters, school, HP or club athlete. Fast enough = you're in.
Who gets the prize money?
The winning athletes! The Rowing NSW Sprint Eliminator features the highest per-athlete prize on offer for a rowing race in Australia.
Women's Race
Men's Race
If you have any questions about the Sprint Eliminator, please email office@rowingnsw.asn.au