Rowing Australia has announced the inaugural Under 19 Australia B Rowing Team, set to compete at the 2026 International Rowing Challenge hosted by US Rowing.
The team represents an exciting new pathway for aspiring elite rowers to gain international racing experience and will be supported by global data and analytics consultancy Billigence, the team’s Official Partner.
The squad is packed with rising athletes who starred at ARC26 and featured on the Billigence Digital Youth Insights Leaderboard throughout the domestic season.
Rowing Australia’s athlete development pathways have been made possible through the ongoing support of Hancock Prospecting and the commitment of Rowing Australia Patron Mrs Gina Rinehart AO. Rowing Australia remains deeply grateful for Mrs Rinehart’s longstanding investment in Australian rowing, which continues to create valuable international racing opportunities for emerging athletes.
On the women’s side, Tahlia Turnbull (ANU/Merici College) and Isabella Henderson (UTS/TAS) were the top two in the U19 Women’s Single at ARC26, closely followed by Maddie McLaughlin (SPRC/Somerset) in fourth. Lucy Reidy (KWS) took home a national title in the Schoolgirl Eight, while coxswain Harriet O’Dwyer (SUBC) steered Queensland’s Youth Eight to a strong silver.
ARC26 champions feature heavily among the men too. Samuel Bredell (Fremantle) won gold in the U19 Men’s Single, joined on the podium by Oliver Kent (UQBC/BGS) and Ewan Humphreys (Mosman/NBSC). Humphreys later joined clubmate Lleyton Schomann (Mosman/OFG) to win the U19 Men’s Double. Scott McDonald (CRC/BSHS) and Flynn O’Loughlin (CRC/BSHS) provide another strong club connection as silver medallists in the U19 Men’s Pair.
The team is supported by Rowing New South Wales and Rowing Queensland and complemented by an experienced coaching staff in Kendall Brodie (Sydney), David Vandas (Fremantle), and team manager Anthea O’Loughlin (Rowing Queensland).
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TEAM LIST
Women
Isabella Henderson – UTS Haberfield Rowing Club/The Armidale School
Maddie McLaughlin – Surfers Paradise Rowing Club/Somerset College
Harriet O’Dwyer (coxswain) – Sydney University Boat Club
Lucy Reidy – Kinross Wolaroi School
Tahlia Turnbull – ANU Boat Club/Merici College
Women’s Coach – Kendall Brodie – Sydney Rowing Club
Men
Samuel Bredell – Fremantle Rowing Club
Ewan Humphreys – Mosman Rowing Club/Northern Beaches Secondary College
Oliver Kent – University of Queensland Boat Club/Brisbane Grammar School
Scott McDonald – Commercial Rowing Club/Brisbane State High School
Flynn O’Loughlin – Commercial Rowing Club/Brisbane State High School
Lleyton Schomann – Mosman Rowing Club/Oxford Falls Grammar
Men’s Coach – David Vandas – Fremantle Rowing Club
Team Manager – Anthea O’Loughlin – Rowing Queensland