Rowers from across the New England have delivered standout performances on the national stage, with multiple medals, close finishes and national titles highlighting the strength of regional talent at the Australian Rowing Championships.
Among the top performers was Alexandra Haire, from Mullaley, who claimed double gold in the Under 17 women’s coxed eight and the Under 17 schoolgirl coxed eight, securing a national championship title. Competing with Loreto Normanhurst where she is a boarder, Haire’s results placed her among the leading young rowers in the country.
Her older brother Jack Haire, rowing for St Ignatius’ College Riverview, also competed strongly, finishing sixth in the schoolboy coxed four.
Bingara’s Jimmy Irwin was another standout, winning gold in both the Under 17 schoolboy coxed eight and the Under 17 men’s coxed eight, also earning national champion honours.
Bukkulla boy George Wall delivered an impressive campaign, securing two silver medals in tightly contested races. Competing for St Joseph’s College, Wall was part of the Australian Under 19 men’s coxed eight crew that finished just 0.63 seconds behind gold.
He backed that up with another silver in the Under 19 schoolboy coxed eight 500 metre sprint final, where the crew missed gold by only 0.19 seconds.
His mother, Kirsty Wall, said the results reflected an extraordinary effort, capping off an intense season that began only months earlier, George returning to rowing in September 2025 after years away from the sport.
“George spent his summer holidays juggling Year 12 study, working for us during shearing, doing training before shearing started at 7:30am, fitness training, rowing camps in Taree and Nepean, the dreaded Erg’s and rowing on the neighbouring Macintyre Station dam practicing his sculling.
“He achieved a season selection to row in the Joeys First VIII crew that rowed a gallant 3rd in the NSW ‘Head of the River’,” Kirsty said.
“So brilliant. So proud,” she said.
The Armidale School also brought home a strong medal haul, reflective of the strength of their program.
Leading the charge was Isabella Henderson, who described her experience as “a dream come true” after winning four medals, including gold in the prestigious schoolgirl single scull over 2000 metres.
“I definitely had an incredible lead up with the State Championships and NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River, and knew what I had to do during the race and when.
“The schoolgirl final was my 14th time going down the Lake Barrington course so I was definitely feeling it and my body was tired, but I took inspiration from cadets, that there was just one more challenge, one more mountain to climb.
“Unlike my other races I was in a centre lane so had a good view of the other rowers, followed my plan, and just didn’t let off until after the buzzer sounded,” she said.
The TAS co-captain of rowing, from Scone, also bagged three medals rowing for UTS Haberfield in club events. After gaining the silver medal in the Under 19 Women’s Single Scull early in the week, she teamed up with UTS teammate and schoolgirl rival Charlotte Olivier from Sydney to win the Under 19 Women’s Double Scull, and wrapped up the regatta with a bronze in the Club Women’s Coxed Eight in one of the last events of the championships.
Fellow TAS rower Tildy Coddington added to the medal tally with silver in the Under 17 women’s coxed quadruple scull, while also reaching multiple finals across individual and crew events. On the final day of competition she teamed with elder sister Izzy for the Schoolgirl Double Scull, securing a 5th place in the final. Izzy also made the quarter finals of the Under 19 Women’s Single Scull, and alongside TAS teammate Georgie Jones and two other rowers, finished 6th in the Under 19 Women’s Quadruple Scull final.
TAS principal Ray Pearson said the results reflected the dedication required to compete at the highest level.
“Training for rowing can be relentless, in all conditions, but these outstanding achievements show that courage and commitment can achieve amazing things on a national stage,” he said.
Like what you’re reading? Support New England Times by making a small contribution today and help us keep delivering local news paywall-free. Donate now