Holland Beker Regatta Day 1 | Australia Wins Gold and Bronze

In the A-Final of the Women’s Eight, the ‘Australia A’ crew produced an emphatic display to take the lead mid-race and win by more than a length.

In the Men’s Pair, the ‘Australia A’ crew of Ben Canham OLY and Alexander Baroni (AUS 2) also came-from-behind to win Bronze after the fancied Australian Senior Team Pair of Alex Hill OAM OLY and Angus Dawson OLY (AUS1) were suddenly slowed by floating weed in the water, just when they were comfortably in the lead and seemingly set up for a commanding win.

The Senior Pair was not the only boat impeded by weed; several boats were on Day 1 of the regatta on Amsterdam’s Bosbaan course where the 2026 World Rowing Championships will be held in August 24-30.

The regatta is an important part of preparation for the Australian Rowing Team (ART). For the ‘Australia A’ squad who are predominately graduating students studying abroad, it is the first opportunity for members to be considered for the World Championships team, with World Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland on June 26-28 the next opportunity. For the Senior Men’s Pair, Holland Beker was an opportune hit-out before World Cup III, and because that is their priority they will not race on Sunday to best prepare for Lucerne.

Until Lucerne, all Senior and ‘Australia A’ athletes are eligible for selection into the World Championships team that Rowing Australia (RA) will name on July 24.

The value of having two representative squads on the international stage to select from for the World Championships team is a shining reflection of RA’s high-performance program that is underpinned by more than a decade of unwavering support from Hancock Prospecting and enduring commitment of RA Patron Mrs Gina Rinehart AO. From trials to crew selection, and the big stage of international competition, Hancock Prospecting’s investment plays a pivotal role in enabling Australian crews to prepare, perform and succeed against the world’s best.

RA also acknowledges the significant support from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and, Australian Sports Commission (ASC), and the Australian Government through Minister for Sport Anika Wells, whose investment enables athletes, coaches and programs to perform on the world stage and represent our nation with pride.

RA Performance Director Paul Thompson MBE said Day 1 of Holland Beker provided some interesting insights, despite the challenging conditions.

“The weed issue will no doubt give regatta organisers something to think about as they prepare the course to World Championship standard,” Thompson said.

“Having said that all our rowers took on their race in the right spirit and the ‘Australia A’ Women's Eight had a fantastic result as did the ‘Australia A’ Men's Pair.

“The nature of this regatta is that it’s two regattas in one; so, the crews have the opportunity to show themselves tomorrow.

“It was also fabulous to see Australian Club crews out racing on the Bosbaan.”

In the Women’s Eight event, the ‘Australian A’ crew impressed in both their Heat and the A-Final to win the Gold Medal.

The crew of Sophie Barr, Taylor Caudle, Jean Mitchell OLY, Gabriela Morton Van Eybergen, Sophie Houston, Sarah Marriott, Caitlin McManus Barrett, Star Rose Miller, and (cox) Anna O’Hanlon asserted their billing as the crew to beat in the A-Final by winning the second of two heats in the fastest time (6:22.66). Heat 1 was won by Netherlands (6:27.16).

The A-Final several hours later was primed to be a feature event with the Australian and Dutch crews both credentialled with Olympic pedigree.

The medal race delivered as the Dutch, in Lane 2, flew out of the blocks to get an early jump on Australia in Lane 3, and to their credit the Australians never let their opposition get away. At 500m the Dutch led Australia by 1.13. At 1000m the margin between the crews had narrowed with the Dutch leading by 1.03.

Australia then turned the screws in the third 500m with an effort that put them in the front and at 1500m leading by 3.14 on the Netherlands, then being challenged by Aegir in Lane 4 and on the cusp of losing second-place.

Australia finished their mission to the letter, with an impressive win (6:18.26) over Aegir (6:20.85) in second, and the Netherlands (6:24.14) third.

The 'Australia A' Women's Eight at the Holland Beker Regatta. Photo: Patrick Boere

“This eight came together from Australian Students studying in the USA and our two team spares,” Thompson said.

“They have been training and working in Italy with the Australian Women's Eight that won the first World Cup three weeks ago in Seville.

“That competitiveness underpinned today's results. A great result for them and their coach Nadia Bleaken.”

In the Men’s Pair A-Final, Hill and Dawson went into the race as favourites after showing their world class qualities in Heat 2 where they led from the start to win in 6:32.21 and by 35.73 seconds from Mexico who won the A-Final.

“Alex and Angus have been tracking well in training, and we saw their potential on the heats with an outstanding race,” Thompson said.

In the A-Final, Hill and Dawson, in Lane 4, looked set for an equally impressive display as they led well through 1000m. But in the third 500m they were suddenly slowed by the weed. Before they stopped and ‘backed it down’ to discard the weed, they were passed by Canham and Baroni who were second in Lane 1, and the rest of the field to drop to sixth at 1500m.

Australian hopes of a win still appeared possible with Canham and Baroni, who made the A-Final with their third place in the first of three Heats 1. They led the A-Final going into the last 500m, but Mexico, in Lane 5, and Brazil, in Lane 2, unleashed mighty finishes to force the upset.

Mexico hung on to win (6:41.25) from Brazil (6:41.58) and Australia 2 (6:43.11), while Hill and Dawson fought well to still finish fourth (6:44.61).

“Things happen in racing and it was a bit of a lottery on which crews pick up the weed,” Thompson said.

“Ben and Alex had a great race to win Bronze and we are celebrating that and I'm sure they are focused on what they can do tomorrow, whilst knowing Alex and Angus have demonstrated some good speed and learnings from the racing to put in place for next week's World Cup.”

In other races on Saturday:

‘Australia A’ members, Hamish Danks and Hamish Allan placed fourth in their heat of the Men’s Double Sculls to miss a spot in the A-Final.

On Saturday, they also raced in Men’s Single Sculls heats with respective fourth and fifth places to again miss out on Sunday’s Semi-Finals.

Danks’ performance in Saturday’s heat was another of a number impaired by weed, but in this case forcing him to stop after he led through the 500m.

On Sunday, Danks will race in the D-Final, while Allan will race the C-Final.

In the Women’s Single Sculls, Grace Sypher, the Australian Senior Women’s Sculling Spare, placed third in Heat 2 to miss the Semi-Final. Sypher will now race in the C-Final on Sunday.

The ‘Australia A’ selection for the Men’s Four of Henry Blackwell, Charles Batrouney, Mackenzie Thompson and Benjamin Scott also missed the A-Final with a fourth place in their heat.

Holland Beker Day 2 - Australian Rowing Team (ART) Members Race Line-up

Men’s Single Sculls: Hamish Danks (C-Final), Hamish Allan (D-Final)

Women’s Single Sculls: Grace Sypher (C-Final)

Men’s Double Sculls: Hamish Allan, Hamish Danks

Men’s Pair: (AUS 2) Henry Blackwell, Benjamin Scott

Men’s Four: Mackenzie Thompson, Alexander Baroni, Ben Canham, Charles Batrouney

Women’s Eight: Sophie Barr, Taylor Caudle, Jean Mitchell, Gabriela Morton Van Eybergen, Sophie Houston, Sarah Marriott, Caitlin McManus Barrett, Rose Miller, (cox) Anna O’Hanlon