Australia will make its official return to the World Rowing Cup Series this weekend, with athletes primed and prepared for World Rowing Cup 1 in Begrade (SRB). It will be the first time since 2019 that Aussie athletes have appeared at a World Rowing Cup Series event.
Six Australian crews comprised of athletes from Australia’s Para-Rowing Team have entered the regatta, which has attracted athletes from 36 nations.
The Belgrade World Cup will be the first on water World Rowing event of the Paris 2024 cycle and there are new faces and changed combinations across the board, including amongst the Australian contingent.
Although she is no stranger to elite competition, Summer and Winter Paralympian Jess Gallagher will this weekend make her World Rowing Cup debut as part of the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four. Fellow debutant Nicholas Neales will also race in this boat class and the long-time recreational rower is enjoying the shift to elite competition.
Tokyo Paralympians Al Viney and Thomas Birtwhistle round out this crew, which will feature a substitute Coxswain, Alex Wenyon from Great Britain, after Australia’s Teesaan Koo was unable to travel with the team to Belgrade. The change approved by World Rowing allows the Australian Crew to continue their journey in the competition with Wenyon, who coxed the PR34+ to victory at the Gavirate International Para-Rowing Regatta a fortnight ago.
Viney will also pair with Alex Vuillermin to race the Women’s Pair, while Neales and Birtwhistle will race the Men’s Pair.
Great Britain has dominated the PR3 Mix4+ in recent years, but is also coming to World Rowing Cup 1 with a change of line-up with newcomers Francesca Allen and Edward Fuller joining their crew.
Australia’s three-time Paralympic Silver Medallist Erik Horrie OAM will race in the PR1 Men’s Single Scull facing a field of six, including returners from Tokyo Benjamin Pritchard (GBR) and Michel Munoz Malagon (MEX). Great Britain has a second entrant, Callum Russell, who will make his international debut and is tipped to be one to watch.
Australia’s Four-time Paralympian Kathryn Ross is the reigning World Champion in the PR2 Women’s Single Sculls and she will race in this boat class as well as the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls with her partner from Tokyo, Simon Albury.
The Australian Team is feeling fresh and ready for competition having put their skills to the test at Gavirate. In-between events, the recently renovated AIS European Training Facility in Varese (ITA) has been a base for our rowers as they prepare for competition. The facility recently reopened its doors to Australian athletes and our rowers have been amongst the first to benefit from the upgrades.
Heats in World Rowing Cup 1 commence Friday with Finals to follow on Saturday and Sunday. World Rowing is once again live streaming the Finals action with the stream beginning Saturday morning.
GUIDE
Here’s your guide to supporting the Australian athletes competing at World Rowing Cup 1, Friday 27 May – Sunday 29 May 2022 at Belgrade, Serbia.
Visit the World Rowing Website to view the schedule, link to the live stream, entries and results.
You can also support the team by following Rowing Australia on Facebook and Instagram.
CREW LIST
| PR1 M1x | Erik Horrie OAM
Coach: Jason Baker OAM |
| PR2 W1x | Kathryn Ross
Coach: Renae Domaschenz |
| PR2 Mix2x | Simon Albury (b)
Kathryn Ross (s) Coach: Renae Domaschenz |
| PR3 Mix4+ | Alexandra Viney (b)
Jessica Gallagher (2) Nicholas Neales (3) Thomas Birtwhistle (s) Alex Wenyon GBR (c) Coach: Gordon Marcks |
| W2- | Alexandra Viney (b)
Alex Vuillermin (s) |
| M2- | Nicholas Neales (b)
Thomas Birtwhistle (s) |
SCHEDULE
NOTE: These tables will be updated once results are posted and start lists are confirmed. AUS Time is reflected as AEST which is eight hours ahead of Belgrade.
Friday 27 May – Heats and Reps
| Local Time | AUS Time | Boat Class |
| 0900 | 1700 | PR3 Mixed4+ |
| 0910 | 1710 | PR1 M1x |
| 0920 | 1720 | PR2 W1x |
| 0930 | 1730 | PR2 Mix2x |
| 1000 | 1800 | W2- |
| 1010 | 1810 | M2- |
| 1515 | 2315 | M2- Reps |
Saturday 28 May – Reps and Finals
| Local Time | AUS Time | Boat Class |
| 0905 | 1705 | M2- D Final |
| 0957 | 1757 | W2- Repechage |
| 1230 | 2030 | PR2 W1x Final |
Sunday 29 May – Finals
| Local Time | AUS Time | Boat Class |
| 0930 | 1730 | W2- B Final |
| 1035 | 1835 | PR1 M1x Final |
| 1050 | 1850 | PR2 Mix2x Final |
| 1107 | 1907 | W2- A Final |
| 1238 | 2038 | PR3 Mixed4+ Final |