| Australia's first-ever Beach Sprint World Champion crowned in Qingdao |
Bella Scammell of Sydney Rowing Club put on a show at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Qingdao on Tuesday, delivering an incredible performance to take out the Women’s Solo gold medal. Across just a few years, Bella has already become a Queen’s Cup winner, the inaugural Sprint Eliminator champion, a NSW and National Champion, and now Australia’s first-ever World Champion in this format.
In the Mixed Quad, Dan Johnston of Mosman Rowing Club and Catherine Khan of Sydney Rowing Club were coxed by Ryder Taylor of UTS Rowing Club to a bronze medal performance, Australia’s second consecutive year securing this strong result.
Mosman Rowing Club's Oscar Scheel-Gamborg joined Bella in the Mixed Double, where they went down in the Knockouts to eventual gold medallists Germany. The whole squad was supported by Beach Sprint Lead Coach Spencer Turrin.
Congratulations to our athletes from the entire NSW rowing community. We can’t wait to see you back in club colours at SIRC this season!
read more > |
| Exciting new format debuts at Cranbrook/RNSW Head |
The inaugural Cranbrook/RNSW Head Regatta took place at SIRC on Saturday 17 October, and it delivered exciting racing while introducing a fresh new format to our clubs and schools.
Setting off at approximately 30 second intervals, crews raced up and down the SIRC course for a total of 3800m, giving them important time trial experience in this early-season head racing block.
In the most-entered events, the U19 singles, Luca Wilson of UTS and Ellie Taylor of Nepean laid down commanding margins to win the men's and women's races, respectively. Strong entries from co-hosts Cranbrook saw them sweep the schoolboy quad events, while MLC did the same in the schoolgirl quads. The fastest overall times on the course were set by two Shore eights, offering a preview of their strength as the school rowing season heats up.
Click here to watch a full replay of the 2026 Cranbrook/RNSW Head.
Click here for results. read more > |
| RNSW x BREWYD - Get your tickets now! |
Don't miss out on tickets to The Transferable Laws of Excellence - a High Performance in Business Event, presented by Rowing NSW and BREWYD on Friday 13 November at the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney.
This exclusive evening brings together rowing leaders, coaches, high-performance practitioners and senior business leaders, C-suite executives, founders, presidents and managing directors, for an evening of insight, discussion and networking. Drawing on the latest research in behavioural science, sports psychology and human performance, the session explores how world class athletes and world class organisations build sustained excellence, and how those same principles apply to leadership, culture and performance, on the sand and in the boardroom.
Guests will hear from leading voices across elite sport, rowing leadership and business, including a panel discussion, "The Science of Elite Performance: From World Championship Athletes to Billion Dollar Companies."
As announced this week, the panel MC will be RNSW President Sinclair Taylor. A former elite athlete and long-term club board member, Sinclair is President of UTS Haberfield Rowing Club and Neo Cycling Club and helps guide Rowing NSW. He is also CEO of Erilyan Group, leading operations in the construction sector, with a career that spans banking, construction and philanthropy.
Tickets: $99 (incl. GST, AUD)
Places are limited. RSVP now to secure your place.
Date: Friday 13th November 2026
Location: Four Seasons Hotel Sydney read more > |
| 2025-26 Annual Report available now |
Rowing NSW is pleased to present its 2025–26 Annual Report, reflecting a year of strong participation, sporting achievement and progress in building a sustainable future for rowing across NSW.
The report celebrates the contributions of our clubs, schools, athletes, coaches, umpires and volunteers, whose collective efforts underpin the success of rowing throughout the state.
During the year, Rowing NSW delivered a calendar of 68 events, encompassing more than 2,400 races and 43,000 race starts. NSW athletes also achieved success on the national and international stage, highlighting the strength of our sporting pathways.
Beyond competition, the report outlines important work undertaken in participation and development, governance, advocacy, partnerships and digital transformation. These initiatives reflect Rowing NSW's commitment to protecting access to waterways, strengthening our rowing community and ensuring the sport remains accessible and sustainable for future generations.
The report also presents Rowing NSW's financial performance and acknowledges the many individuals and organisations whose contributions make our sport possible.
We invite our rowing community to explore the report and reflect on the achievements of 2025–26.
Read the Rowing NSW 2025–26 Annual Report read more > |
| It's Sydney Uni vs Melbourne Uni in the 2026 Australian Boat Race this weekend |
This Sunday, 25 October 2026, the famous Australian Boat Race returns to Sydney for its 17th edition.
In a rivalry that started in 1860, this race sees the best men and women student-athlete rowers from the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne battle it out for bragging rights.
The 2026 Australian Boat Race will feature a new course, using the Lane Cove River between Greenwich Wharf and the Figtree Bridge.
This will provide a 2,700 metre course for the University College Races, a 3,500 metre course for the Australian Boat Races between Sydney University and Melbourne University men’s and women’s eights, and a 3,500 metre course for two brand-new races debuting in 2026: The Sydney Schoolboy’s and The Sydney Schoolgirl’s Australian Boat Races.
The new races for Schoolboys will be contested by The King’s School and St Joseph’s College, and the Schoolgirls will be contested by Pymble Ladies’ College and St Catherine’s College, Waverley.
The full schedule for the day is shown in the regatta program.
The races will be broadcast by on water and drone footage on the Rowing NSW YouTube channel.
Presentations after the events will be held at The Thyne Reid Boathouse of Sydney University Boat Club in Burns Bay. read more > |
| Entries open for next month's All Schools + Sprint Champs blockbuster |
On 28 & 29 November, the 2026 NSW All Schools Championships and NSW Club & School Sprint Championships take over SIRC for a massive weekend of racing.
Entries are open now via Rowing Manager for both regattas:
All Schools
Sprint Championships
Please note the earlier close of entries for both regattas: Thursday 19 November 2026 at 5pm AEDT.
Merchandise pre-orders are open now thanks to The Regatta Shop - don't miss out!
And keep an eye on the fastest crews - a new season of the Billigence Digital Youth Insights Leaderboard is coming soon. read more > |
| Stephen Handley OAM inducted as Rowing NSW Life Member |
Rowing New South Wales is delighted to welcome Stephen Handley OAM as a Life Member, recognising his exceptional contribution to rowing in NSW across six decades.
Stephen's Life Membership was confirmed at the 148th Annual General Meeting of Rowing NSW, held on Monday 19 October 2026.
The occasion was made particularly special by the attendance of fellow Rowing NSW Life Members Andrew Rowley, Terry O'Hanlon, Keith Jameson OAM and Tony Brown, pictured above with Steve (centre), who joined in welcoming Stephen to this distinguished group.
Life Membership is one of the highest honours bestowed by Rowing NSW, recognising individuals whose dedication, leadership and service have made a lasting contribution to the sport.
Rowing NSW warmly congratulates Stephen Handley OAM on his Life Membership and thanks him for his outstanding service, leadership and commitment to rowing in New South Wales.
For the full announcement, see the Rowing NSW website. read more > |
| Jennifer Luff to be inducted into NSW Hall of Champions |
Rowing NSW congratulates multiple-time Olympian, NSW Representative, National Champion and NSW Champion Jennifer Luff on her induction into the NSW Hall of Champions.
She is one among five of NSW’s and Australia’s finest ever athletes who will be inducted into the NSW Hall of Champions at the prestigious NSW Champions of Sport ceremony at The Star Event Centre on Monday, November 23.
Joining an illustrious alumnus of over 400 sports greats from 61 sports are Stephen Davies (Hockey), Jennifer Luff (Rowing), Rick McCosker OAM (Cricket), David Pescud OAM (Sailing) and Kathleen Shannon-Bazzano (Cycling).
Jennifer Luff won 16 national titles across nine years in two different boat classes - sculling and sweep-oar rowing. She represented Australia five times at the World Championships and was placed eighth in the Women’s Double Scull at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. Luff switched to the Women’s Eight at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games where they finished fifth.
Tickets to the NSW Champions of Sport Ceremony are now available and can be purchased HERE. read more > |
| ICYMI - Athlete nominations open for 2027 NSW State Team |
Athlete nominations are now open for the 2027 NSW State Team, to contest the Interstate Regatta at the 2027 Australian Rowing Championships in Western Australia.
To nominate, please fill out the form at this link. read more > |
| Rowing Australia Community Awards - finalists announced |
NSW is well represented among the just-announced Community Award finalists for Rowing Australia's 2026 Rower of the Year Awards:
John Johnson - Finalist for Volunteer of the Year
Mosman Rowing Club - Finalist for HP Club of the Year
Kinross Wolaroi School - Finalist for School Program of the Year
Queenwood School - Finalist for School Program of the Year
Congratulations to these finalists on this well-deserved honour!
Winners will be announced at the Rower of the Year Awards in Sydney on Saturday 14 November 2026.
Tickets for the Rower of the Year Awards can be purchased here. read more > |
| Download the new Rowing NSW Hub app now! |
The official Rowing NSW Hub App is available now on the App Store and Google Play.
EVERY ANNOUNCEMENT, STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE
The Rowing NSW Hub App is the new home for alerts at regattas: schedule changes, heat alerts, progression updates and official announcements. Choose which types of notification you want to receive. Optionally log in to receive notifications from other Rowing NSW services such as FleetTrack and our Community Noticeboard.
AN EASIER WAY TO SEE THE RNSW CALENDAR
See the full calendar of upcoming RNSW events and regattas right on your homepage, with times and locations, ready to plan your training and racing around.
BRAND NEW RACE DAY TOOLS
Run a handicap start with a spoken countdown. Ask OarAIcle, the Rowing NSW assistant, anything about rules, classes or getting started.
KNOW THE CONDITIONS
Set your club, then get up-to-date info on wind speed, gusts and direction, air temperature and feels-like, rain and UV. See the conditions at other clubs, and view every rowing club in NSW on one map, with contacts a tap away.
Download the app here:
 
Or by searching ‘Rowing NSW’ on your device’s app store.
n.b. To sign in to the Rowing NSW Hub app, you will need to create an account (which is distinct from your Rowing Manager account). read more > |
| Reminder - Megaphones on NSW waterways |
As the season ramps up and we move into the summer months, Rowing NSW reminds clubs and schools that amplifying devices such as megaphones should not be used in the vicinity of residential areas before 7am and after 7pm.
You can find more information about safety on NSW Waterways on the Rowing NSW website. read more > |
| Upcoming Rowing Australia Events |
2026 Rowing Australia Coaches Conference
This is targeted at all coaches! There are a raft of great speakers covering topics very relevant to all school and club rowing programs. They cover coxing, understanding your athletes better and how to be more effective as coaches, as well as coaching the quad and the eight.
It really does promise to be a Conference where attendees will leave with some fresh ideas and knowledge that they can make use of.
It runs on the Gold Coast from Saturday evening the 24th October to 15:30 on Monday the 26th.
Rowing Australia have just released a new online Coxswains' Accreditation Course. It uses great resources including NTC coxing videos to support school coxes to start their coaching journey and improve. Whether it's how to call pieces or technique, work with crews and coaches, or to navigate the demands of their first race, it's pitched to help and it's only $32.50. You can find out more details at the enrolment page - https://education.rowingaustralia.com.au/
Australian Indoor Rowing Open
AIRO26 runs from 24 October to 1 November and gives competitors nine days to race on their own Concept2 RowErgs.
There are school licences available that cover a group. Participants can race at a school or club when it suits them. There are club, school and team leaderboards for this event. Competitors compete for AIRC26 national titles, and those who complete the Stack can earn one of a limited number of AIRO26 shirts.
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Next Rowing NSW eNewsletter - 6 November 2026
We'd love to hear from your club or school! If you have anything of interest to share with our community, get in touch with comms@rowingnsw.asn.au |
Don't forget to renew your membership for the 2026-27 racing season! Check out our membership hub on the RNSW website for full details. |
The app for boating safely in NSW
If you own a boat, download the Marine Rescue NSW app to help you stay safe on the water.
The app has tools and information including:
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the option to log a trip, with live safety tracking updates, to help Marine Rescue NSW locate you if needed
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tide, weather and sea conditions
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boat ramp and fishing spot locations
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safety checklists
- emergency procedures
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Bike Helmets and Etiquette @ SIRC
We would like to thank everyone for complying with this request at our past few regattas at SIRC, and we look forward to seeing this continue.
- Only coaches are able to access the bike paths to follow their crews down the course. Spectators will not be allowed to access the bike paths to walk around the venue or to ride up and down the course.
- Please wear your bike helmets when riding around the venue.
- Please click here to read Transport for NSW's 'Safety on Wheels' brochure.
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Working with Children Checks
Working with Children Checks are valid for 5 years. If yours expires soon, you can now save time by renewing it online.
- To help verify your identity, you’ll be asked to scan your face using the camera on your phone, tablet or computer. Your scan will then be matched with the photo on your NSW Driver Licence or NSW Photo Card. Scans will be permanently deleted after the check has been completed.
- If you’d prefer, you can still renew in-person with your identity documents at a Service NSW centre.
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