Rowsellas bring home Golden Oar crown as the festival of rowing debuts in Canberra

The Rowsellas have claimed the inaugural Golden Oar title after a thrilling weekend of racing on Lake Burley Griffin, as Canberra delivered a spectacular debut for a new rowing festival.

Presented by Canberra Airport, The Golden Oar combined world-class racing, live entertainment and community celebration across two unforgettable days at Black Mountain Peninsula.

Around 300 athletes competed in more than 70 crews, with spectators enjoying perfect weather, food vans, music and family-friendly activities that created a true festival atmosphere.

Saturday’s racing opened with fierce heats featuring Olympians Alex Hill OAM and Tara Rigney OLY, Croatian legends Martin and Valent Sinković and top Australian National Training Centre crews.

The atmosphere was electric, with racing complemented by the CBR Wild Swim, the YMCA Cardboard Boat Regatta and a high-energy ergometer relay that paired elite athletes with Canberra school rowers.

A standout activation came in the form of the AIRC25 Row Nation Erg Relay, presented on 20 Concept2 RowErgs lined up lakeside.

The 4×500m mixed relay featured 20 teams made up of Rowsellas and New Zealand athletes alongside students from Canberra Grammar, Canberra Girls Grammar, Marist College and Radford College.

With each team blending experience and youth, and strategy playing a major role in changeovers, the event brought fierce competition.

The race became a crowd favourite, showcasing the energy and inclusivity that define both the Australian Indoor Rowing Championships and Row Nation programs.

Sunday’s finals raised the stakes even higher.

The eliminator-style Mixed Open Quad Scull delivered edge-of-the-seat finishes, with the Rowsellas taking home the $50,000 top prize, the largest purse in world rowing.

The WARC composite crew of Rowsellas Bronwyn Cox OLY, Giorgia Patten OLY, Nicholas Blackman and Alexander Rossi powered through to victory ahead of a strong Swan River composite, sealing Australia’s dominance across the regatta.

Other standout results included UTS winning the Mixed Club Quad Scull, Canberra/ANU ACT taking Under 19 honours, and Canberra Rowing Club triumphing in the Masters category.

The event also made history by offering $10,000 prize money in the PR3 Mixed Double Scull, a global first for para-rowers, with the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, presenting the trophies.

“The Golden Oar has shown what Canberra can deliver; world-class rowing, a welcoming community and an atmosphere unlike anywhere else,” John Gasson, President and CEO of Red Shed Inc, said.

“This weekend was a celebration of the sport, our city and everyone who came together to make it happen.”

With more than $100,000 in prize money, elite international crews, and glowing feedback from athletes and spectators alike, The Golden Oar’s debut has set a new benchmark for rowing festivals worldwide. 

Planning is already underway for 2026.

Full results: rowingmanager.com/regattas/6763/results