Golden Coxed Four headline memorable regatta for Next Gen stars

The Australian Under 19 Rowing Team has shown impressive potential as they finished a collective seventh at the 2024 World Rowing Under 19 Championships in St. Catharines, Canada.  

Australia entered six crews into the regatta, with five racing for medals on the final day of competition.  

Two crews came away with medals; the Men’s Coxed Four (Gold) and the Men’s Double Sculls (Bronze).  

Jason Lane, Head of Pathways at Rowing Australia, said the collective results of the Under 23 and Under 19 crews showed the talent pipeline for Australian flat-water rowing was highly encouraging. 

“To win seven medals across both teams is an outstanding achievement and is a testament to the hard work the athletes and coaching team put in over the last few months,” Lane said.  

2024 World Rowing Under 19 Championships: The Breakdown  

Men’s Coxed Four – Gold 

The Sydney-based crew made up of arch-rival schools St. Ignatius College (Riverview) and St. Joseph’s College rowed a dominant race taking an early lead, before separating from the pack to cross the line first in a time of 6:39.36. 

Samuel Basha, Matias Maloney, Tomas Maloney, Ambrose Hennessy and Henry Burton (c) couldn’t have pulled together a better performance.  

It was a special moment for the Maloney family as twins Tomas and Matias, spoke to World Rowing.   

“The two schools are right next to each other. We’re big rivals and we came together for this [Coxed] Four. We got to train at one shed together and it was an amazing experience.” 

RESULTS: AUS, ITA, USA, RSA, IRL, CAN 

Men’s Double Sculls – Bronze 

In a highly competitive field, only 3.81s separated first and fourth in the Men’s Double Sculls.  

The Australian crew of Luca Free and Alexander Williams held off the strong French Double to claim the bronze medal.   

RESULTS: GRE, GER, AUS, FRA, AIN, ITA 

Women’s Coxed Four – Fourth 

Italy were clear winners in the Women’s Coxed Four, finishing their race just over nine seconds ahead of the pack. However, only 1.59s separated second and fourth.  

The Australian crew of Poppy Dalton-Morris, Lucinda Johnstone, Louisa Burney, Francesa Dever and Scarlett Pringle (c) fell just short of the podium as the crew from USA moved past Australia at the halfway mark and were able to hold third.  

RESULTS: ITA, FRA, USA, AUS, CAN, RSA 

Men’s Single Sculls – Sixth 

After having an incredible heat and semifinal, William Rogers (coached by Julian Huxley) finished sixth in the world on the final day of racing.  

Rogers showed impressive potential as the 17-year-old from The King’s School in Sydney put down a commendable performance at his first international regatta.  

RESULTS: GRE, AIN, GER, SUI, CAN, AUS 

Women’s Quad Sculls – Sixth 

The Women’s Quad Sculls of Lucy Yabsley, Sina Metzger, Jade Bliss and Juliet Kelly rowed a consistent race to finish sixth.  

RESULTS: ITA, GBR, GER, POL, CZE, AUS 

Women’s Four – Eighth 

After just falling short of making the A-Final in the Repechage, the Women’s Four rowed a strong race to finish second in their B-Final, placing them eighth in the world.  

The crew of Greta Spencer, Lyla Fievez, Jessica Colbran, and Imogen Grey held their heads high after finishing the Mega Worlds regatta on a high. 

2024 World Rowing Under 19 Championship Australian Medal Tally 

Gold – One 

Silver – Zero 

Bronze – One 

Images: Vera Bucsu