#ARC25 Wrap: Building foundations, elevating standards, and shaping the future of Australian rowing

By Nick Jones at the Lake Barrington International Rowing Course

The 2025 Australian Rowing Championships (#ARC25) concluded with not only fierce racing across all categories but a renewed sense of purpose and momentum as the nation’s top rowers look ahead to the international season and beyond.

From the elite to rising para talent, #ARC25 was more than a title chase, it was a national checkpoint.

Rowing Australia sat down with its Head Coaches, Chris O’Brien (Men), James Harris (Women) and James Loveday (Para), to reflect on the week, the performances and the path forward.

“You’ve got to be able to turn up and deliver” - Chris O’Brien, Men’s Head Coach

Chris O’Brien approached the lead-in to #ARC25 with resilience and adaptability, after illness sidelined six Reinhold Batschi National Training Centre athletes, saying it was a case of “playing the cards you’re dealt”.

“It’s disappointing those guys [Alex Hill OAM, Hamish Wynn-Pope, Alex Nichol, Alex Wolf, Fraser Miscamble, Myles McQuilan] couldn’t race here, but we’ve thrown that into the mix, and we’ll see how it plays out at Trials,” O’Brien said. “They would've appreciated the race prep, but it’s all eyes forward now.”

Despite the disruption, O’Brien praised the quality of racing throughout the week.

“It’s been pretty good, honestly. A lot of athletes just turned up and laid it out. It’s tough to compare results perfectly with shifting conditions, but that’s part of the assessment process too, seeing who can adapt.”

With Selection Trials imminent, his message to aspiring team members was clear.

“Just get on with your training. Do the simple things well. The results will come if you’ve been consistent.”

O’Brien, in his first ARC as newly appointed Men’s Head Coach, also highlighted the event’s growth and accessibility.

“It’s been really pleasing to see how easy it is to move around and enjoy the event. And there’s been a lot of young kids here racing. That’s the future.”

“Get the foundations right, and the skyscraper will build” - James Harris, Women’s Head Coach

Taking part in his first ARC and first as Women’s Head Coach, James Harris brought a grounded, methodical energy to the week. His athletes arrived off the back of foundational work at the Hancock Prospecting National Training Centre (HPNTC).

“This was our first time out of the HPNTC since Paris,” Harris said. “It’s less about being perfectly prepped and more about checking where we’re at. The best athletes can do the job with minimal prep. It’s about getting the foundations right physically, technically and emotionally.”

While ARC25 revealed promise, Harris remained realistic.

“Let’s be honest, there’s work to do. We’re at the starting point of a new cycle with new athletes, and while there’s good physiology and boat movers, we’ve got to nail all aspects: physical, technical, mental. There’s no hiding place internationally.”

Looking toward the upcoming Selection Trials, Harris stressed performance consistency.

“As they get better, their good and bad days look the same. That’s what we want; tight performance range, high quality, every time.”

He praised #ARC25’s overall delivery and atmosphere.

“It’s as well run as any international event I’ve been to. Great vibe from juniors right through to the Interstate Regatta. And the rotation from SIRC to Tasmania and other states is excellent.”

And finally, he issued a challenge to the next generation of open women.

“Approximately 200 female Single Scullers across juniors and U23s, but just 15 in the open class. I'd love to see that kind of transfer up to the opens.”

“It’s an open door, but you have to meet the standard” - James Loveday, Para-Rowing Head Coach

James Loveday’s #ARC25 story was one of connection, discovery, and growth.

Having stepped into the Para-Rowing Head Coach role officially in December last year, Loveday and lead coach Christine McLaren are shaping a bold vision for the Paralympic pathway.

“We’re recruiting, rebuilding, and re-engaging. Across schools, clubs, and universities,” Loveday said.

“The response has been amazing. At the 2024 Rowing Australia Coaches Conference in Queensland alone, three athletes emerged who are now racing nationally.”

He cited Queensland GPS schools’ new Para event and performances like 16-year-old Isobel Egan’s (Radford College) win in the PR3 Single Sculls as examples of a pipeline that’s beginning to flourish.

“There’s momentum. The schools are engaging. We’re finding young athletes who are winning events and asking about selection already. It’s exciting.”

Loveday was also candid about the work ahead.

“Our senior team is young. In PR3, we’re building. But we’ve got the right people. And when you see someone like Erik Horrie storm the course this week? That sets the standard.”

Indeed, four-time Paralympic medallist Erik Horrie OAM PLY posted a benchmark performance that would stack up internationally, despite it being March.

“He's demonstrating that he's really serious about this cycle and how he’s approaching it. I've been really fortunate to spend some time with him in Brisbane and we've had some conversations about how we want to do things moving forward. He's 100% on board with that.”

Loveday sees the next four years as a huge opportunity, but he’s also realistic.

“We’re introducing ergo standards, distributing training programs. We’re making it accessible. But we’re clear: standards matter. If you’re willing to commit and can meet the benchmark, we’ll send you [overseas].”

#ARC25 also confirmed to Loveday how far the para program has come in public and community engagement.

“More people are coming up and asking questions. They want to know how to get kids involved, how to link to selection. That’s thanks to athletes like Jed, Nikki, Erik, and the Four. They’ve brought the sport into the conversation.

“Every state CEO and institute lead was here. We’re having those conversations. Olympic and Paralympic pathways are no longer separate. We’ve got a shared vision.”

Looking Ahead: Selection Trials and a new cycle

#ARC25 was more than a national regatta, it was a measuring stick, a talent showcase, and a momentum builder.

With the Australian Rowing Team Selection Trials just around the corner and eyes set on Shanghai for the World Rowing Championships in September, Paris legacies and LA dreams, the Head Coaches each echoed the same sentiment: Do the work. Nail the basics. Consistency counts.

And most importantly, the door is open.

Whether you’re an Under 17 sculler, a para-athlete racing your first nationals, or an open gunning for green and gold, the message from the top is loud and clear... if you’ve got the standard and the grit, Rowing Australia wants to see you step up.