#ARC25 Day Six Wrap – Sydney dominates the podium in thrilling Men’s Eight final

By Nick Jones at the Lake Barrington International Rowing Course

Day Six of the 2025 Australian Rowing Championships brought intensity, club pride and world-class execution, none more exciting than the Open Men’s Eight, where Sydney Rowing Club delivered a Gold and Bronze podium punch in one of the biggest races of the week.

Open Men’s Eight – Sydney Rowing Club’s Statement

Sydney Rowing Club’s (SRC) top Eight stormed home in raging headwinds to stop the clock at 6:12.89, holding off a polished Melbourne Uni (MUBC) Composite by just over three seconds.

A second SRC crew took third in 6:20.47, delivering the club a double podium in the race that mattered most.

Tess Harris, cox of the winning crew, said they nailed the plan.

“We knew the MUBC crew would be fast off the start, so we had to be adaptable," Harris said. 

"We made the call to go for it between the 750m and the 1km and closed the door from there.”

For stroke seat Miles Harrold, the win capped months of preparation.

“We’ve been training in Eights 75% of the time this season. To get two boats on the podium at nationals, it’s beyond the club’s dreams,” Harrold said.

“We’ve probably got 40 guys training down at Sydney [Rowing Club] every day. This is what we’ve been working for since September.”

With the King’s Cup looming, Harrold isn’t counting Sydney out.

“I think NSW are in a good spot. Everyone’s writing us off."

Open Women’s Quad Scull - Barr switches to two oars and wins

Paige Barr (Mercantile RC / HPNTC) made a last-minute switch from sweep to sculling this afternoon... and it paid off.

Barr helped steer the Mercantile/UTS Haberfield HPNTC composite to Gold in the Open Women’s Quad, finishing in 7:23.14. ANU followed in 7:35.21, with Sydney RC and Canterbury placing third.

“I wouldn’t say cruisey. Pretty bumpy out there,” Barr said.

“Made the switch [to sculling] about an hour ago. First race back since Paris, and with two oars this time. Just slipped into the crew.”

She admitted there were a few nerves at the start, and a few crabs in the mix, but said they were just happy to get it done.

Lightweights Impress… again

The Barwon Composite crew were sharp from the start in the Open Lightweight Men’s Quad, taking Gold in 6:16.41 ahead of the Indian Army and a gritty Toowong Composite.

India returned for the Lightweight Men’s Coxless Four, edging out Swan River and Adelaide Uni/Adelaide in what served as a preview of Sunday’s Penrith Cup.

In the Open Lightweight Women’s Quad, the Sydney University Composite led from start to finish in a commanding 7:07.81 performance.

Melbourne Uni Hold Off Sydney in Women’s Eight

Melbourne Uni’s-HPNTC Eight showed serious staying power in the Open Women’s Eight, powering through the middle 1000m to finish in 7:12.42.

Sydney Uni closed hard but had to settle for Silver in 7:14.00, while the Sydney Rowing Club crew placed third in 7:18.32. 

Open Men’s Quad – Rossi, Cleary and Co. set the standard

The WARC Composite RBNTC crew of Jack Cleary (WARC), Alex Rossi (WARC / RBNTC), Josh Daubney (Swan River RC / RBNTC) and Patrick Holt (UTS Haberfield RC) executed a confident row to win the Open Men’s Quad in 6:54.58.

The Indian Army picked up Silver, and WARC Composite-ACT claimed Bronze.

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