The championship women’s pair will feature exciting racing between some of Queensland’s best sweep rowers. The pair allows sweep rowers to showcase their individual strength, and, without the numbers of a larger boat class, it demonstrates who exactly is creating the boat speed.
University of Queensland Boat Club 1
Individual strength is certainly evident in this University of Queensland pair. Wallis Russell has an extensive range of experience, from racing internationally at the U23 World Rowing Championships in 2017 and 2018, to racing in the Queensland eight in the Queen’s Cup at the interstate regatta in 2025. The other member of the crew, Elizabeth Newell, also has international experience, racing for Australia at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals last year. Russell was part of the pair that finished second in this event in 2025, and it would not be surprising to see this combination push for the gold medal.
University of Queensland Boat Club 2
The second pair from the University of Queensland is less experienced, but together they still have plenty of strength. Both athletes raced at the 2025 interstate regatta: Gabrielle Ryan in the youth eight, and Tylah Hutton in the Queen’s Cup eight. Hutton’s success in the coxless four, demonstrated by her appearance in the 2024 U21 Trans-Tasman team and by her fifth-place finish in the U23 coxless four at the 2025 Australian Rowing Championships, will serve her well as she moves into the smaller boat class. This pair will challenge the other University of Queensland crew and push them for the top spot on the podium.
Toowong Rowing Club 1
The top Toowong Rowing Club pair will be trying to break into the dominance shown by the University of Queensland last year, when they took home all three medal spots. Nancy Duncan-Banks is a strong athlete with previous success in the pair, illustrated by her seventh-place finish in the U23 pair (the highest-performing Queensland pair in this event) at the 2025 Australian Rowing Championships. Duncan-Banks won this event last year, racing for the University of Queensland and will undoubtedly want to repeat this victory for Toowong. Jemima Powell also has had success in small boats, having come fourth in the lightweight single at the 2025 Australian Rowing Championship. This pair recently won the championship women’s Grade 2 Pair at the 2025 Queensland Grade Championship regatta and will be looking to achieve a similar result this weekend.
Prediction
It seems logical to predict that the University of Queensland 1 will take the victory this weekend. Next on the podium will be Toowong Rowing Club 1, and then the University of Queensland 2. However, it remains to be seen whether Toowong Rowing Club 2, and Kand Rowing Club will challenge the expected medallists and uproot the anticipated order. The championship women’s pair promises close, exciting racing this weekend and is definitely an event to watch.
