By Rupert Guinness, Australian Rowing Teams Media Manager
Members of the ‘Australia A’ squad face the first of two final opportunities to force their way into the World Championships team at the Holland Beker Regatta in Amsterdam, Netherlands on June 20-21.
After Holland Beker, the last chance to impress for selection for the World Championships in Amsterdam on August 24-30 will be World Cup III in Lucerne on June 26-28.
The Senior Team, currently training at the European Training Centre (ETC) in Gavirate, Italy, will also race at Lucerne.
Until then, all Senior and ‘Australia A’ team members are eligible for the Australian Rowing Team (ART) for the world titles 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.
Australia Men’s Head Coach Chris O’Brien is clear about the opportunity that awaits the ‘Australia A’ team of four crews - a Men’s Pair, Four and Double Scull and Women’s Eight – at the Holland Beker Regatta and World Cup III in Lucerne.
“These athletes are still eligible for selection for the World Championships,” O’Brien said.
The ‘Australia A’ program has created a stronger talent pool to select from – and in turn stronger crews. Since its inception in 2024, the ‘Australia A’ program has also seen members go on to make Senior Men’s and Women’s teams that same year.
“The ‘Australia A’ program helped provide numbers and depth that saw us put together a Men’s Eight that finished fourth at the World Championships last year, with seven of the nine athletes being debutants,” said O’Brien.
Australia Women’s Head Coach James Harris is also excited to see how the ‘Australia A’ team seizes the opportunity at Holland Beker, knowing the program’s past success.
“This is an opportunity to primarily bring together the top athletes who have been studying outside of Australia, while also allowing our coaches and staff time to work with these athletes and align them to our principles,” Harris said.
The 2026 ‘Australia A’ squad, whose coaches are Scott Rowe (men) and Nadia Bleakan (women), again includes athletes from a variety of pathways.
Two of the men are from the United States collegiate system – Under 23 medallists Benjamin Scott (Harvard University) and Alexander Baroni (University of California Berkeley).
Meanwhile, Alexander McLean, a member of last year’s Australian Men's Eight, returns from Cambridge University where he raced in and won the Boat Race for Cambridge over Oxford.
Four women also come from the US colleges – 2025 Women’s Eight member Sophie Houston (University of Washington), Under 23 medallist Sarah Marriott (Stanford University), Sophie Barr (Harvard University) and Star Rose Millar (University of California Berkeley).
The remainder of the ‘Australia A’ squad has been drawn from domestic programs around the country, including athletes who narrowly missed selection into this year’s Senior Team.
The ‘Australia A’ athletes certainly recognise the prime opportunity that Holland Beker and World Cup III presents as ‘Australia A’athletes are also eligible for selection into the Australian World Championship team.
“You can see they’re thinking about it,” said O’Brien.
“They know it’s a selection regatta as well. They’re going to seize the opportunity.”
Harris concurs: “The racing will be an exciting opportunity for the athletes to put out a performance to see if it catches the eyes of the selectors; especially in Lucerne where the group will have its toughest test against the leading nations.
“But the ‘Australia A’ group has been immersed within the Women's Squad at the ETC. So, the whole team will be looking forward to supporting them at Holland Beker.”
Meanwhile, a selected coterie of Australian Senior Team members will also race at Holland Beker.
The Senior Men’s Pair of Alex Hill OAM OLY and Angus Dawson OLY have been entered to race. Women’s Sculls Spare, Grace Sypher will also compete in the Single Sculls.
Asked why the Pair is racing, O’Brien said: “It’s a nice opportunity to have a hit-out.
“We’ve not been long here in Europe. It gives the Pair some international racing experience.
“It’s just a shakedown … a chance to get out, learn a little from racing and get some warmer water again."
“It also gives us visibility of some of the other boats and athletes we want to have a look at.”
Holland Beker also offers the Pair a valuable chance for them to develop as a combination in a race situation.
The Pair competed together successfully at the Australian Rowing Championships at Lake Barrington, Tasmania, but O’Brien said they are still relatively early in their journey.
“We really brought them together about three weeks before nationals,” he said.
“They had some time together during the summer, but really three weeks before nationals were when we started getting things moving. There’s still some upside to the combination.”
On the decision to enter Sypher for Holland Beker and what her objectives are, Harris says: “Grace has been part of our quad squad and been a very adaptable reserve for the group.
“Holland Beker presents a great opportunity for her to race in one of the pinnacle events at the regatta.”
Holland Beker carries the added importance of it being held on the same course as the 2026 World Championships, and for that O’Brien sees the trip as a handy reconnaissance mission.
“The World Championships will be there,” he said. “There are nuances around the course. It gives the athletes an opportunity to see it again and us an opportunity to get eyes on it.”
Holland Beker Regatta: Australian Crews
Men’s Single Sculls: (AUS 1) Hamish Danks, (AUS 2) Hamish Allan
Women’s Single Sculls: Grace Sypher
Men’s Double Sculls: Hamish Allan, Hamish Danks
Men’s Pair: Saturday - (AUS 1) Angus Dawson, Alex Hill, (AUS 2) Ben Canham, Alexander Baroni
Sunday - (AUS 1) Angus Dawson, Alex Hill, (AUS 2) Henry Blackwell, Benjamin Scott
Men’s Four: Henry Blackwell, Charles Batrouney, Mackenzie Thompson, Benjamin Scott
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
HOW TO FOLLOW the 2026 Holland Beker Regatta – Amsterdam: June 20-21
Follow the action across Rowing Australia’s social channels.
For all entries, draw and results, click HERE
For Live race tracker and LIVE audio click HERE
For LIVE video streaming click HERE
For the ‘Australia A’ Team click HERE
By Rupert Guinness, Australian Rowing Teams Media Manager