2024 Interstate Championships
Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith NSW
Images for this regatta can be found at Australian Rowing Images.
The sport returned to Sydney in accordance with biennial rotation to SIRC put in place some years back. The weather was superb and racing excellent.
There was no surprise with Victoria taking out the Queen's Cup again, but there was an upset with Victoria taking out the King's Cup from the favoured New South Wales. Nor was there any surprise in Tara Rigney taking out the Nell Slatter Trophy and in the President's Cup, Alex Hill was supreme. The Tasmanians were not to be denied in their tradition hunting ground in the Penrith Cup. In the PR3 sculling, again no surprises with Australian representative rowers Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager winning their respective events.
Despite Victoria's successes in the King's and Queen's Cups, New South Wales took out the John Coates Cup for the most successful State. This trophy was renamed this year in John's honour after a lifetime of exceptional service to the sport.
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Rupert Guinness reported for Rowing Australia as follows:
Victoria earned major bragging rights at the Interstate Rowing Championships on Sunday by winning two of the most prestigious and sought-after crowns in the sport in Australia.
At the Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC) in Penrith, Victoria won both the King’s Cup and Queen Elizabeth II Cup for the respective Men’s and Women’s Interstate Coxed Eight titles.
NSW was awarded the John Coates AC Cup as the winning State on overall points from all events in the Interstate Rowing Championships, following the Australian Rowing Championships. NSW won with 60 points, followed by Victoria (56) and Queensland (45).
But the smiles on the faces of the winning Victorian Men’s and Women’s Eights showed how much their wins meant. It was the first time Victoria had won both races since 2021 when the Interstate Rowing Championships were held at Lake Barrington in Tasmania.
The events brought to an end a fabulous week of racing at SIRC, highlighted also by the Australian Rowing Championships that finished shortly before Sunday’s interstate races.
Rowing Australia Chief Executive Sarah Cook said the week was a “fantastic celebration” of the sport at the 2000 Olympic venue. Fittingly, the return to SIRC after five years also fell on the same year as the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, which are the ultimate goal for many who raced here.
“It’s been really special to come back here in the Olympic and Paralympic year,” Cook said. “To have the opportunity to be at this fantastic legacy venue to see our Olympians and Paralympians who are preparing for Paris has been extraordinary. So, it’s just been a fantastic celebration.”
Interstate Men’s Eight – the King’s Cup
Racing in lane two and in perfectly flat conditions, Victoria took the lead from the start and led throughout the 2000m distance. The crew won in 5 minutes 33.26 seconds, beating the defending and fancied champions NSW by 2.75s. In third was South Australia at 9.73.
In the Victorian boat was Ben Canham (bow), Tim Masters, Austin Reinehr, Rohan Lavery, Fergus Hamilton, Simon Keenan, Jack Robertson, Angus Widdicombe (stroke) and Josh Rook (cox).
It was a special win for them all, but especially so for Canham who as ‘Bow’ wore the white ‘Big V’ and was first across the line. The last time he raced in the bow seat was 2021.
The moment was not missed by Canham, a member of the Australian Men’s Coxed Eight. “I think I may have found my calling. I should keep it going for the rest of this year,” he said.
Canham said the Victorian crew had it sights on victory ever since losing to NSW last year when the Insterstate Rowing Championships were held in Perth.
“We knew coming into it that we had something special,” Canham said. “We have been building since last year when we didn’t quite nail it on the day.
“You only get one chance (a year) to do it and if you make a mistake, that’s it. There is a lot of energy and emotion put into this one particular race. We knew at the start of this week that we would be onto it.”
Canham said the win was one of his best. “It’s up there. One of my previous most memorable was in 2021 at Lake Barrington when we won. This is right up there with it.”
Interstate Women’s Eight – the Queen Elizabeth II Cup
Unlike the Men’s event, Victoria had to mount a stern comeback to surpass early leaders NSW.
Victoria rose to the challenge superbly, passing the fast-starting NSW who were gallant in their challenge after 1500m.Victorian quickly took a length’s lead and then charged away to an emphatic win in 6:12.88. NSW were second at 6.64s, followed by Queensland at 10.28s.
The win reinforced Victoria’s domination in the event. It has lost just once (2019) in nine years.
Sunday’s crew was Katrina Werry (bow), Eliza Gaffney, Jean Mitchell, Amanda Bateman, Laura Foley, Lucy Stephan OAM, Jessica Morrison OAM, Paige Barr (stroke) and cox Hayley Verbunt.
For Stephan, a Tokyo 2021 Olympic Gold medallist in the Four, it was her 11th in the event – a record – with seven from 2012 to 2018 as well as in 2021, 2022, 2023 and now 2024. Her stellar resumé also includes two World Rowing Championships Gold Medals in the Women’s Four (2019-2017,) a World Silver (2018) and Bronze (2013) in the same boat.
“A good race is never an easy race,” Stephan said of Victoria’s answer to NSW’s fast start.
Stephan can’t compare her 11 wins in the race that she has competed in 12 times. “Every one is special,” she said. “There are ones you remember – your first, the ones you really had to work and row through when you get jumped at the start. This one is a bit of that today.”
Index to Results
- Men's Eight–King's Cup
- Men's Sculling–President's Cup
- Men's Lightweight Four–Penrith Cup
- Men's Youth Eight–Noel F Wilkinson Trophy
- Men's PR3 Scull
- Women's Eight–Queen's Cup
- Women's Sculling–Nell Slatter Trophy
- Women's Lightweight Quad Scull–Victoria Cup
- Women's Youth Eight–Bicentennial Cup
- Women's PR3 Scull
Team New South Wales was again the dominant State team taking out the Rowing Australia Cup with six wins out of the ten races.
The final Interstate Medal Tally Standing is as follows (as per Rowing Australia Medals Table):
1st – New South Wales 60 points
2nd – Victoria 56 points
3rd – Queensland 45 points
Results (in pdf format)
Day 7 of the Australian Championships - Sunday 24th March 2024
Results of the National Championships can be found on the National Championships pages.
Summary of racing
The Rowing Australia report from Rupert Guiness continued.
In other Interstate Championship Regatta events:
Interstate Women’s PR3 Single Scull
Nikki Ayers added another victory to her week, representing the ACT and winning in 8:35.40s. In second place was Lisa Greissl of NSW at 14.75s, followed by Susannah Lutz of Victoria in third at 23.62. Kayley Mitchell of Queensland was fourth at 1:13.84s.
Interstate Men’s PR3 Single Scull
Jed Altschwager, Ayers’ crewmate in the World Champion Mixed PR3 Double Scull, emulated her performance with a strong win for South Australia. Altschwager won in 7:48.88s, beating Mac Russell of Queensland by 5.74s and Stuart John of the ACT by 10.99s.
Interstate Women’s Single Scull – the Nell Slatter Trophy
Dual World Championship Single Scull Bronze medallist Tara Rigney produced another trademark dominant performance to win for NSW for the third year in a row. Rigney, who won Gold in the Open Women’s Single Scull and Quad Scull events at the Australian Rowing Championships, won the interstate championship in7:39.92s. Second was Ria Thompson for Queensland at 9.78s, followed by Cara Grzeskowiak of the ACT at 13.69s.
Interstate Men’s Single Scull – the President’s Cup
Alex Hill OAM showcased his versatility with a victory for South Australia. The 2021 Tokyo Olympic champion in the Men’s Coxless Four, in which he has been selected for the 2024 season, won this year’s interstate Single Scull title in 6:59.61s in a brilliant display of power.
Hill beat NSW’s Marcus Della Marta, second at 3.84s, and ACT’s Caleb Antill, third at 5.13s.
Interstate Lightweight Women’s Quadruple Scull – the Victoria Cup
This was a commanding victory for NSW by the crew of Neve Tierney, Giorgia Miansarow and Laura and Gracie Sypher. NSW won in 6:47.74s, beating Tasmania by 4.50s and Victoria by 15.38s.
Interstate Lightweight Men’s Coxless Four – the Penrith Cup
Tasmania claimed victory in an impressive time of 6:14.99s. The crew of Angus Paynter, Oscar Birtwistle, Laurie Dean and Alec Paterson had to fend off a brave challenge over the last 500m by Victoria, who were second at 1.00s with Western Australia third at 8:02s.
Interstate Women’s Youth Eight – the Bicentennial Cup
It was good fortune for Queensland, who bolted away from the start to win by two thirds of a length in 6:34.83s. The crew of Edie Russell, Astrid Thomas, Georgia Montague, Sophie Malcolm, Eliza Bridgefoot, Ruby Dollar, Alice Ready, Tylah Hutton and cox Priscilla Russell fended off a brave Victoria who finished second at 2.42s, followed by NSW at 5.25s.
Interstate Men’s Youth Eight – the Noel F Wilkinson Trophy
NSW led the next wave of talent from the state with a win that augurs well for the future. The crew of Oliver St Pierre, Nick Whalan, Oscar Beregi, Brandon Smith, Joe Lynch, Alec Hoskin, Charlie Hine, Joshua Wilson led well at 1500m, and staved off a late charge by Queensland to win in 5:52.06s. Queensland was at 1.06s. Third was Victoria at 1.54s.
Organising Committee and Umpires
Rowing Australia headed by RA Events Manager Alice Evans. Other members included Chris Grummitt, Fred Taylor, Anthony Brown and Brett Ralph (Technical Delegate).
Jury - David Grubits VIC - President of the Jury, Grant Ford WA - Deputy President of the Jury, Ashley Dillon VIC, Phil Fraser TAS, Catherine Garrington ACT, Merran Holmes NSW, Rene Klupacs VIC, Paul Knight SA, Ross Litchfield VIC, Duncan Mackinnon VIC, Stewart McQuade QLD, Tim Morris TAS, Brian Nash WA, Caroline Schomberg QLD, Greg Smith NSW, Rob Stobie QLD, Chris Symons TAS, Chris Tucker NSW, Zara Underwood QLD, Brett Woolfitt WA.
Men's Interstate Eight-Oared Championship–The King's Cup
5:33.26
5:36.01
5:42.99
5:46.81
5:47.79
6:14.57
1st Victoria - Bow Ben Canham, 2: Tim Masters, 3: Austin Reinehr, 4: Rohan Lavery, 5: Fergus Hamilton, 6: Simon Keenan, 7: Jack Robertson, Str: Angus Widdicombe, Cox: James Rook, Coach: Matthew Ryan and Alastair Matthews
2nd New South Wales - Bow: Campbell Watts, 2: Will O'Shannessy, 3: Jackson Kench, 4: Nick Pender, 5: Spencer Turrin, 6" Jack O'Brien, 7: Jack Hargreaves, Str: Alex Purnell, Cox: Kendall Brodie, Coaches: Jason Baker, Dan Noonan
3rd South Australia - Bow: N Blackman, 2: Oscar McGuinness, 3: T Liubinas, 4: R Hamilton, 5: A Holland, 6: M Reinhard, 7: Angus Dawson, Str: Alex Hill, Cox: M Newland, Coach: S Morton
4th Western Australia - Bow: L Davis, 2: A Rossi, 3: B Clayton, 4: B Whyatt, 5: J Cleary, 6: Joshua Hicks, 7: R Rees-Turner, Str: M McQuillan, Cox: T Rogers, Coach: Tom Gatti
5th Queensland - Bow: E Apel, 2: M Salisbury, 3: D Rhodes, 4: Harley Moore, 5: Cormac Kennedy-Leverett, 6: P Holt, 7: Jarrod Lord, Str: M Rowe, Cox: J Cooke, Coaches: Scott Rowe, C Holliday
6th Tasmania - Bow: K Breier, 2: H Mounter, 3: R.Fenner, 4: R.Colley, 5: J.Wilson, 6: W.Birchmore, 7: J.Barrett, Str: Deon Birtwistle, Cox: G Rumbel, Cch: T Barrett
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Men's Interstate Sculling Championship–The President's Cup
6:59.61
7:03.45
7:04.74
7:06.05
7:12.14
7:12.70
7:16.68
1st South Australia - Alex Hill, Coach: Nicholas Mitchell
2nd New South Wales - Marcus Della Marta, Coach: Tom Laurich
3rd ACT - Caleb Antill, Coach: David Fraumano
4th Western Australia - Joshua Hicks
5th Tasmania - Joseph Wilson
6th Victoria - Dominic Frederico, Coach Alistair Matthews
7th Queensland - Jackson Free, Coach: Marcus Free
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Men's Interstate Lightweight Four Championship–The Penrith Cup
6:14.99
6:15.09
6:23.01
6:26.89
6:28.21
6:28.28
6:40.85
1st Tasmania - Bow: A Paynter, 2: Oscar Birtwistle, 3: L Dean, Str: A Paterson, Coach: J Crow
2nd Victoria - Bow: Jordan Roberts, Nick Szigeter, C Rahdon, Ben Whitmee, Coach: Alistair Matthews
3rd Western Australia - Bow: J Sangster, 2: O Cliff, 3: E Bromley, Str: C Brace, Coach: K Neville
4th Queensland - Bow: C Place, 2: S Parry, 3: R Williams, Str: L McCoy, Coaches: M Game, A Clatworthy, M Russell
5th New South Wales - Bow: J Waldersee, 2: J Henderson, 3: J Waddell, Str: Sean Murphy, Coaches: Michael Smith, Graham Gardiner
6th South Australia - Bow: B Ross, 2: T Osborn, 3: K Miller, Str: H Wurm, Coach: Brenton Terrell
7th Australian Capital Territory - Bow: I Shalliker, 2: J Adams, 3: M Rickard, Str: Alex Tomanovits, Coach: W Hatcher
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Men's Interstate Youth Eight Championship–The Noel F Wilkinson Trophy
5:52.14
5:53.50
5:56.13
5:58.94
6:00.93
6:06.40
1st New South Wales - Bow: O St Pierre, 2: N Whalan, 3: O Beregi, 4: B Smith, 5: J Lynch, 6: A Hoskin, 7: C Hine, Str: J Wilson, Cox: R Taylor, Coaches: Matthias Ungemach, F Imfeld
2nd Queensland - Bow: T Stevens, 2: M Cashman, 3: C Willett, 4: A Weightman, 5: D Cashman, 6: M Martin, 7: L Tucker, Str: S Forbes, Cox: T Shaw, Coaches: R Martin, John Bowes, S Pozzi
3rd Victoria - Bow: B Marchant, 2: A Kirk, 3: M Currie, 4: J Houghton, 5: T Foley, 6: L Idle, 7: N Bryant, sTR: W Hooper, Cox: J Feferkranz, Coach: Paul McGann
4th South Australia - Bow: J Schirmer, 2: A Drayton, 3: M Henry, 4: J Boyce, 5: H Belcher, 6: E Chipperfield, 7: A Holland, Str: J Nesbitt, Cox: A Holloway, Coach: Brigette Carlile
5th Western Australia - Bow: J Cassey, 2: S Clode, 3: H Salfinger, 4: L Davis, 5: C Stevenson, 6: O Lourie, 7: H Davies, Str: F McNamara, Cox: R Poon, Coaches: A Thompson, O Jones
6th Tasmania - Bow: A Vermey, 2: C Auton, 3: R Fox, 4: C Mitchell, 5: J Voss, 6: R Sanderson, 7: F Palmer, Str: A Stewart, Cox: I Leckie, Coach: A Palmer
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Men's Interstate PR3 Scull Championship
7:48.88
7:54.62
7:59.87
8:12.26
8:28.40
9:24.47
1st South Australia - Jed Altschwager, Coach: Christine McLaren
2nd Queensland - Mac Russell, Coach: M Russell
3rd Victoria - Nick Bartlett, Cch: H McLeod
4th New South Wales - Harrison Nichols, Coach: O Mackintosh
5th Tasmania - Michael Taylor, Coach: Paul Volker
6th Australian Capital Territory - Stuart John, Coach: David Fraumano
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Women's Interstate Eight Championship–The Queen's Cup
6:12.88
6:19.52
6:23.16
6:26.99
6:45.19
6:51.21
1st Victoria - Bow: Katrina Werry, 2: Eliza Gaffney, 3: Jeannie Mitchell, 4: Amanda Bateman, 5: L Foley, 6: Lucy Stephan, 7: Jess Morrison, Str: Paige Barr, Cox: Hayley Verbunt, Coaches: Lucy Stephan, B Ross
2nd New South Wales - Bow: C McManus-Barrett, 2: L Gourley, 3: Rowena Meredith, 4: Georgie Rowe, 5: S Morton, 6: I Scammell, 7: E Sheppard, Str: Harriet Hudson, Cox: H Cowap, Coaches: Laryssa Biesenthal, Judith Ungemach
3rd Queensland - Bow: M Williams, 2: N Duncan-Banks, 3: J Scott, 4: K Rowan, 5: L Hope, 6: C Cronin, 7: L Alton, Str: S Tisdall, Cox: L Lunney, Coaches: A Ellis, E McCarthy, Sally Kehoe
4th Western Australia - Bow: G Spencer, 2: C Broad, 3: Z McKellar, 4: G Hart, 5: E Wilson, 6: J Swick, 7: R Pretorius, Str: B Cox, Cox: N Rogers, Coaches: M Beer, B Hutton
5th South Australia - Bow: C Cowan, 2: A Collins, 3: V Binns, 4: M Webb, 5: O Aldersey, 6: J Jollands, 7: G Taeger, Str: E Bramwell, Cox: E Venus, Coaches: Christine MacLaren, Ron Mobbs
6th Tasmania - Bow: H Tippett, 2: L Tippett, 3: A Cherry, 4: J Stephens, 5: C Blyth, 6: M McCausland, 7: J Janssens, Str: K Oliver, Cox: C Mead, Coach: S Finlayson
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Women's Interstate Lightweight Quad Scull Championship–The Victoria Cup
6:47.74
6:52.24
7:03.12
7:06.68
7:08.59
1st New South Wales - Bow: N Tierney, 2: L Sypher, 3: G Miansarow, Str: G Sypher, Coaches: Lachlan Carter, K Healy
2nd Tasmania - Bow: P Teale, 2: S Robinson, 3: A Reardon, Str: V Zilm, Coaches: A Crow, Paul Newbon
3rd Victoria - Bow: E Brennan, 2: L De Gleria Cade, 3: M Foley, Str: A Di Cosmo, Coaches: Virginia Lee, E Crute
4th Queensland - Bow: J Powell, 2: S Woodbury, 3: E Graham, Str: A O'Toole, Coaches: N Stubbs, D Vandas
5th Western Australia - Bow: S Tolomei, 2: H Rowe, 3 : I Emery, Str: L Glendinning, Coach: S Balosso
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Women's Interstate Youth Eight Championship–The Bicentennial Cup
6:34.83
6:37.25
6:40.08
6:48.81
6:53.56
7:01.97
1st Queensland - Bow: E Russell, 2: A Thomas, 3: G Montague, 4: S Malcolm, 5: E Bridgefoot, 6: R Dollar, 7: A Ready, Str: T Hutton, Cox: P Russell, Coaches: A McNicol, C Raven
2nd Victoria - Bow: Zara Kfouri, 2: Jess Hawker, 3: J Wilcox, 4: M Dumbrell, 5: A Cox, 6: S Marriott, 7: C Nevins, Str: Lucy Richardson, Cox: J Evans, Coaches: C McConville, Zoe Fettig-Winn
3rd New South Wales - Bow: L Page, 2: J Bliss, 3: J Colbran, 4: Z Bond, 5: A O'Brien, 6: A Fikkers, 7: T Knoke-Driver, Str: I Grey, Cox: S Castellas, Coaches: F Griffiths, J Watson
4th Western Australia - Bow: J Kelly, 2: I Edinger, 3: K Kalweit, 4: A Cirocco, 5: S Metzger, 6: E O'Neill, 7: L Fievez, Str: S Reading, Cox: A Ng, Coach: K Atchison
5th South Australia - Bow: P O'Mahony, 2: C McNally, 3: T Bates, 4: F Cox, 5: D Macolino, 6: Z Hoadley, 7: G Barrera, Str: D Holland, Cox: S Tayeb, Coaches: Christine MacLaren, J Francou
6th Tasmania - Bow: L Barker, 2: T Klower, 3: L Hucker, 4: M Higgins, 5: O Walter, 6: E Spaulding, 7: M Cocker, Str: P Kennett, Cox: G Robertson, Coach: D Tippett
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Women's Interstate Sculling Championship–The Nell Slatter Trophy
7:39.92
7:49.70
7:53.61
8:11.08
8:32.22
1st New South Wales - Tara Rigney, Coach: A Young
2nd Victoria - Ria Thompson
3rd ACT - Cara Grzeskowiak
4th Queensland - Danica Free, Coach: Duncan Free
5th Western Australia -Tanika Webb
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Women's Interstate PR3 Sculling Championship
8:35.40
8:50.15
8:59.02
9:49.24
1st ACT - Nikki Ayers, Coaches: David Fraumano and David Bagnall
2nd New South Wales - Lisa Greissl, Coach: O Mackintosh
3rd Victoria - Susannah Lutze, Coach: E Crute
4th Queensland - Kayley Mitchell, Coach: M Russell
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Sources
- Rowing Manager for results and names - extracted 23 May 2024
- Australian Rowing Images for photos
- Commentary from latest news section Australian Rowing Championships website - extracted 23 May 2024
- RA Umpires Commission records for jury