Stars Ready for World Rowing Championships

The 2023 World Rowing Championships begin this Sunday the 3rd of September in Belgrade, Serbia. The Championships are conducted over the course of a week, so be sure to note down those important race dates & times! Rowing Victoria are very excited and proud to see seventeen Victorians selected across seven of the Australian crews. Australian crews will be looking to build on their strong World Cup form and secure medals across a range of boat classes. 

Angus Widdicombe, Jack Robertson, Tim Masters, and Ben Canham have brought plenty of Victorian spirit to a resurgent Men's Eight, with their crew coming off the back of Australia's first Gold medal in the event in 36 years. With just 0.61s between themselves and Great Britain at World Cup III, this event is certainly one to watch!

Jessica Morrison OAM and her partner Annabelle McIntyre have been dominant in the Women's Pair so far in their European campaign. The undefeated pair will be looking to keep this momentum going and return to the top of the podium.

Victorian skipper, Lucy Stephan OAM, leads a new-look Women's Four, including fellow Victorians Katrina Werry and Sarah Hawe. The crew claimed Silver at the recent World Rowing Cup III and will be looking to go one better next week.

Coxswain Hayley Verbunt has been steering the Women's Eight in the right direction during her first Senior international season. The crew, including Paige Barr and Georgie Gleeson, have claimed Gold and Bronze medals so far in their campaign - we hope to see them add to their collection!

Amanda Bateman continues to build form alongside Laura Gourley in the Women's Double, with a fourth place finish at World Cup III giving them plenty of motivation heading into the Championships.

Fergus Hamilton received the late call-up to make his senior debut at World Cup III, joining Simon Keenan in the Men's Pair. As a new combination, we're excited to see if they can build on their 7th place performance.

Lastly, Jessica Gallagher, Suzanne Lutze, and Teesaan Koo (Coxswain) will race as part of the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four. The crew is no stranger to Gold, with success at the International Para Rowing Regatta in June, and they will be hoping to replicate this performance next week.

Among the other strong medal contenders include the Men’s Four, Women’s Single, and the PR3 Mixed Double. Rowing Victoria wishes all Australian athletes and coaches the best of luck. 

FULL PROGRAMME

The final squad scheduled to compete can be found here and below, with Victorian athletes highlighted in bold.

MEN’S SQUAD

Men’s Four (M4-): Alex Hill OAM, Jack Hargreaves OAM, Spencer Turrin OAM, Alex Purnell OAM. Coach: Rhett Ayliffe (Head Coach).

Men’s Eight (M8+): Kendall Brodie (Coxswain), Angus Widdicombe, Angus Dawson, Jack O’Brien, Jack Robertson, Tim Masters, Ben Canham, Josh Hicks, Paddy Holt. Coach: Mark Prater.

Men’s Pair (M2-): Fergus Hamilton, Simon Keenan. Coach: Laryssa Biesenthal.

Spares Jackson Kench (Bowside), Will O’Shannessy (Strokeside). Coach: Laryssa Biesenthal.

Men’s Double (M2x): Cormac Kennedy-Leverett, Harley Moore. Coach: Lyall McCarthy.

Men’s Quad (M4x): Caleb Antill, Jack Cleary, Dave Bartholot, Henry Youl. Coach: Don McLachlan.

Men’s Single Scull (M1x): Alex Rossi. Coach: Don McLachlan

Men’s Lightweight Double (LM2x): Oscar McGuinness, Sean Murphy, Blaine Heseltine (Non traveling spare). Coach: Lyall McCarthy.

WOMEN’S SQUAD

Women’s Pair (W2-): Jessica Morrison OAM, Annabelle McIntyre OAM. Coach: John Keogh (Head Coach).

Women’s Four (W4-): Giorgia Patten, Katrina Werry, Sarah Hawe, Lucy Stephan OAM. Coach: Tom Westgarth.

Women’s Eight (W8+): Hayley Verbunt (Coxswain), Lily Alton, Paige Barr, Georgie Gleeson, Olympia Aldersey, Georgina Rowe, Jacqueline Swick, Molly Goodman, Bronwyn Cox. John Keogh (Head Coach).

Women’s Single (W1x): Tara Rigney. Coach: Ellen Randall

Women’s Double (W2x): Amanda Bateman, Laura Gourley. Coach: Hally Chapman.

Women’s Quad (W4x): Rowena Meredith, Caitlin Cronin, Harriet Hudson, Kathryn Rowan. Coach: Tom Westgarth.

Lightweight Women’s Double (LW2x): Anneka Reardon, Lucy Coleman. Coach: Ellen Randall.

Spares: Eleanor Price (Strokeside), Jaime Ford (Bowside). These two athletes also cover open weight sculling. Georgina Miansarow (LW non-travelling spare). Coach: Hally Chapman.

PARA ROWING SQUAD

Men’s PR1 Single (M1x): Erik Horrie OAM. Coach: Chad King

PR3 Mixed Double (PR3 Mix2x): Nikki Ayers, Jed Altschwager. Lisa Greissl travelling spare, Toby Goffsassen non-travelling spare. Coaches: Chad King, Christine McLaren.

PR3 Mixed Coxed Four (PR3 Mix 4+): Tom Birtwhistle, Harrison Nicholls, Jessica Gallagher, Susannah Lutze, Teesan Koo (Coxswain). Lisa Greissl travelling spare, Goffsassen non-travelling spare. Coach: James Loveday.