NSWIS Rowers Claim 72 Medals as New South Wales Dominates Nationals

New South Wales dominated the 2026 Australian Rowing Championships by delivering a commanding performance on Tasmania’s scenic Lake Barrington, Tasmania.

New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holders played a strong role in helping the Blues top the overall medal tally by claiming 72 medals – their performances accounted for approximately 57% of the state’s 127.25 total.

The Premier state was also crowned interstate champions, reclaiming the John Coates AC Cup from Victoria after a tightly contested regatta last year.

At the centre of the campaign was Olympian Tara Rigney, whocontinued her dominance in the Interstate Women’s Single Scull, winning her fifth consecutive Nell Slatter Trophy. Rigney also claimed gold in both the Open Women’s Single Scull and Double Scull.

“[The lake conditions] were quite challenging because it was a very strong headwind,” she said “[That made the water] quite choppy, so you have to be really clean with your blades because it’s easy to accidentally let go of an oar or catch a crab.

“[I just told myself,] ‘I’m just going to have to just keep the beat up as much as I can, and if you get a dirty stroke, don’t worry about it and just keep on ticking it along,’ which allowed me to scrape in there with the win in the end – I was very grateful for that.”

After balancing full-time work and training over the past 12 months, Rigney described the feeling of returning to competition as a “privilege.”

“I had been on the extreme other side where you’re working at a desk all the time and stimulating your brain but not your body,” she said. “So, I actually had a moment of gratefulness, like, ‘I’m so lucky that my body’s still allowing me to do this and there’s nowhere else I would rather be.’”

“[Winning the Single Scull] title always means so much to me. I’m extremely proud of my country, and Australia has a lot of depth and excellent rowers.”

On the men’s side, Marcus Della Marta delivered one of the standout performances of the competition by claiming gold – and The President’s Cup – in the Open Men’s Single Scull, Open Men’s Quadruple Scull and Interstate Men’s Single Scull, alongside a bronze in the Open Men’s Double Scull.

After being advised by his team that the President’s Cup would come down to whoever executed best on the day, Della Marta said the choppy conditions helped him thrive and ultimately take the win.

“Nationals was about learning the best way to approach racing from a physical and technical standpoint,” he said.

“Funny enough, the execution in those conditions was the difference. The strong head breeze and choppy conditions was something I have never been a part of in a 2k race before.”

“I trusted my fitness in what was a long race and had confidence that in tough conditions I could take more good strokes than the rest of the field. My background in Beach Sprint rowing helped me accept and embrace what I knew would be a messy race.”

Della Marta said he also prefers to embrace the unknown, utilising his nerves and adrenaline as fuel to maintain good strokes.

“Being ready to race is different for everyone,” he explained.

“From the moment I get on the water, I want the nerves and adrenaline to keep me alert and sharp. If I spend too much time on the water, I might overthink or get distracted and a lull might set in, making me feel a bit flat. I think about saving my good strokes for the race!”

Coming back from a tough Nationals last year which included overcoming a long-term illness, Della Marta was happy with his performance. “The consistency in my racing and the progression I made throughout the week gave me confidence that the work I have put in is paying off,” he said.

“I know [Nationals] is one step in what is a long four-year cycle. There will be plenty more ups and downs, but it is straight back to work with National Team selections and overseas racing fast approaching!”

The regatta highlighted the strength of the New South Wales crew across multiple boat classes, with the women’s eight securing the Queen’s Cup title back-to-back.

The crew – comprised entirely of NSWIS scholarship holders – featured Georgie Rowe, Laura Gourley, Jaime Ford, Emily Sheppard, Taylor Caudle, Zara Collisson, Isabella Scammell, Caitlin McManus-Barrett, and coxswain Hannah Cowap.

The state’s men’s youth eight also secured gold in the Noel F. Wilkinson Trophy, with Oscar Scheel-Gamborg, Gus Ciesiolka, Tomas Moloney, and Matias Moloney part of the victorious crew.

Beyond the headline results, NSWIS athletes contributed to a medal haul that reflects strong form ahead of national team selection.

Alec Hoskin led the charge with four gold medals across Open and Under 23 events, while Alex Nichol and Nick Dunlop were instrumental in the Open Men’s Coxed Eight victory.

In the women’s ranks, Sarah Fahd delivered a strong all-round campaign, claiming gold in the Open Women’s Double Scull alongside two silver and one bronze.

Georgie Rowe and Laura Gourley combined for gold in the Open Women’s Coxless Pair before contributing to the Interstate Women’s Eight triumph.

The next generation also made their mark across the under 23 and youth events, signalling a strong pipeline for the future.

“The overall results are extremely exciting, and we have a lot of young talent coming through in New South Wales which I really think was showcased by the Queen’s Cup,” Rigney said.

“It was an amazing performance by them and such a convincing win. It’s just been so great to even be a part of that [environment].”

Full NSWIS Results:

Adam Holland: Silver, Under 23 Men’s Single Scull / Gold, Under 23 Men’s Coxed Eight / Bronze, Interstate Men’s Eight
Alec Hoskin: Gold, Open Men’s Coxless Four / Gold, Open Men’s Coxed Eight / Gold, Under 23 Men’s Coxless Pair / Gold, Under 23 Men’s Coxless Four / Silver, Under 23 Men’s Coxed Eight
Alex Nichol: Gold, Open Men’s Coxless Four / Gold, Open Men’s Coxed Eight
Caitlin McManus-Barrett: Silver, Open Women’s Quadruple Scull / Bronze, Open Women’s Coxed Eight / Gold, Interstate Women’s Eight
Emily Sheppard: Bronze, Open Women’s Double Scull / Gold, Interstate Women’s Eight
Georgie Rowe: Gold, Open Women’s Coxless Pair / Gold, Interstate Women’s Eight
Grace Sypher: Silver, Open Women’s Quadruple Scull
Gus Ciesiolka: Bronze, Under 21 Men’s Coxed Eight / Gold, Interstate Men’s Youth Eight
Hamish Danks: Silver, Open Men’s Quadruple Scull
Hannah Cowap: Bronze, Open Women’s Coxed Eight / Gold, Interstate Women’s Eight
Hugh Harrold: Bronze, Under 23 Men’s Coxless Four / Silver, Under 23 Men’s Coxed Eight
Isabella Scammell: Bronze, Open Women’s Coxed Eight
Jack Power: Gold, University Men’s Quadruple Scull Sprint / Gold, Open Men’s Quadruple Scull Sprint
Jaime Ford: Gold, Interstate Women’s Eight
Josh Wilson: Bronze, Open Men’s Coxless Four / Silver, Open Men’s Coxed Eight / Gold, Under 23 Men’s Coxed Eight
Laura Gourley: Bronze, Open Women’s Coxless Pair / Silver, Open Women’s Coxed Eight / Gold, Interstate Women’s Eight
Mackenzie Thompson: Bronze, Open Men’s Coxless Pair / Bronze, Open Men’s Coxless Four / Silver, Open Men’s Coxed Eight / Gold, University Men’s Quadruple Scull Sprint
Marcus Della-Marta: Gold, Open Men’s Single Scull / Bronze, Open Men’s Double Scull / Gold, Open Men’s Quadruple Scull / Gold, Interstate Men’s Single Scull
Matias Moloney: Bronze, Under 23 Men’s Coxless Pair / Gold, Under 21 Men’s Coxed Eight / Gold, Interstate Men’s Youth Eight
Miles Harrold: Gold, Open Men’s Coxed Eight
Nick Dunlop: Gold, Open Men’s Coxed Eight
Oscar Beregi: Silver, Open Men’s Coxed Eight / Gold, Open Men’s Quadruple Scull Sprint
Oscar Scheel-Gamborg: Bronze, Under 23 Men’s Quadruple Scull / Gold, Under 21 Men’s Quadruple Scull / Gold, Interstate Men’s Youth Eight
Paddy Holt: Silver, Open Men’s Coxless Pair / Silver, Open Men’s Coxless Four / Silver, Open Men’s Coxed Eight / Gold, Interstate Men’s Eight
Sarah Fahd: Gold, Open Women’s Double Scull / Silver, Open Women’s Single Scull / Silver, Open Women’s Quadruple Scull / Bronze, Open Women’s Coxed Eight Sprint
Tara Rigney: Gold, Open Women’s Double Scull / Gold, Open Women’s Single Scull / Gold, Interstate Women’s Single Scull
Taylor Caudle: Gold, Interstate Women’s Eight
Tomas Moloney: Bronze, Under 23 Men’s Coxless Pair / Gold, Under 21 Men’s Coxed Eight / Gold, Interstate Men’s Youth Eight
Will Rogers: Gold, Under 23 Men’s Coxed Eight / Silver, Under 23 Men’s Coxless Four / Bronze, Under 21 Men’s Coxed Eight
Zara Collisson: Gold, Interstate Women’s Eight

Photo: Rowing Australia