Australia dominates Barbados with seven Golds at the 2025 Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships

Australia has delivered one of its strongest Beach Sprint performances to date, claiming seven Gold medals from eight entered events at the 2025 Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships on Browne’s Beach, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Across Under 19, Under 21 and Open categories, Australian crews showcased explosive speed and growing technical mastery, with three team members backing up from the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Antalya, Turkey, just weeks earlier.

Rowing Australia Performance Director Paul Thompson MBE said the team’s across-the-board success reflected both the athletes’ professionalism and Australia’s rising standards in the surf.

“The team did really, really well and were at the top of their game,” Thompson said.

“For three of those athletes [Forbes, Newell, and Whyatt] to double up after the World Finals isn’t easy.

“Every time you get to a start line in Beach Sprints, it’s golden, and they’ll all be better for this experience.”

Australia’s medal haul began with a win in the Under 19 Women’s Solo, where Oceane Jeannerat stormed to Gold in 2:45.59 ahead of Canada.

In the Under 21 ranks, Rowsella Samuel Forbes claimed the U21 Men’s Solo with a controlled and clinical run (2:27.57), before teaming up with Calli McRae to win the Under 21 Mixed Double in one of the closest races of the Regatta (2:32.63).

Thompson said the depth coming through Under 19s and Under 21s is a healthy indicator of Australian coastal rowing.

“Those boats were selected from our Australian Beach Sprint Championships, so this gives us real confidence in the quality of our National Championships,” Thompson said.

In the Open categories, Australia’s Antalya-tested Rowsellas delivered another commanding international campaign.

Elizabeth Newell powered to Gold in the Women’s Solo (2:43.48), backing up the strong form she showed at the 2025 World Beach Sprint Finals.

Moments later, Blake Whyatt produced one of the performances of the Championship with a dominant victory in the Men’s Solo, stopping the clock at 2:27.66 - nearly 30 seconds ahead of Wales.

The two then combined to claim Gold in the Mixed Double, comfortably defeating Wales in 2:17.69.

Thompson said the ability of Newell, Whyatt and Forbes to transition seamlessly from World Finals racing to Commonwealth competition was a testament to their professionalism.

“They all had different preparations, but they arrived ready. To win not just the singles but the crew boats as well is a real credit to them, and to coach Michael Russell.”

Australia capped its campaign by winning the Team Relay, clocking 7:24.71 to defeat Scotland (7:47.87).