The Rowing NSW Small Boats Regatta marks one of the first key selection regattas for state crews, allowing combinations formed over January camps to make their mark. In particular, the regatta serves as a primary selection regatta for the coveted interstate youth eights, granting athletes from NSW their first chance to earn a spot in the sky blue zootie, especially those who’ve had a taste through the pathways programs. The U21 women’s pairs has a large field of athletes, with ten boats comprising twenty of the country’s best-performing juniors, making this event certainly one to watch.
Sydney University – Evelien Stigter and Miranda Worswick
A new combination of St Catherine’s School alumni Evelien Stigter and Victorian Miranda Worswick will take on the U21 pair alongside racing in the U19 category to gain some essential extra racing experience before January comes to an end. Despite Stigter only taking up the sport in 2023, she quickly moved into the St Cath’s first eight, where she would remain as the boat won back-to-back national titles at the Australian Rowing Championships (ARC) and competed internationally at Henley Royal Regatta. Stigter is joined by Geelong Grammar Alumni and current U19 eight national title holder, Miranda Worswick. The pair formed after staying in contact following a zootie swap at the ARC, both with their eyes set on making the U19 team, they’ll be sure to use their experience as gold medallists to set a solid pace in this upper-age category. The only thing holding them back will be their lack of experience as a pair.
UTS – Olivia Harris and Chelsea Baker
Chelsea Baker was a member of the highly consistent St Catherine’s School first eight, who claimed the national title in both 2024 and 2025 with Baker in the boat. Not only will she be competing against her former crewmates, but like many of the other St Cath’s alumni also named amongst the competition, she’ll also be up against her fellow Australian crew members, as she was selected to represent Australia in the U19 eight in Lithuania in 2025. Olivia Harris will bring significant recent racing experience to the boat, having competed and won a plethora of events at the Taree Summer Regatta despite a notable absence from rowing in the 2024/2025 season. This crew will be one to watch
Sydney Rowing Club – Eva Tompson and Mika Naito
Sydney Rowing Club’s ability to recruit young talent is a testament to this pairing of Queenwood Alumni Eva Tompson and former Captain of Boats at Pymble Ladies College, Mika Naito. Tompson finished up her final season of schoolgirl rowing at Queenwood with three silvers at the ARC in 2025 in the U19 coxed four, U19 eight, and schoolgirl coxed four, respectively. These performances would earn her a place at Southern Methodist University (SMU), an NCAA D1 School, which she’ll begin at in August of this year. She sits behind U19 Australian representative Mika Naito, whose selection into the junior eight will have given her confidence heading into her first year of U21 following a near fourth in her schoolgirl eight at the 2025 ARC.
UTS – Madeleine Swain and Madeleine Manins
The crew of Madeleine Swain and Madeleine Manins continues their tenure with UTS following a successful first year of U21 in the 2024/2025 season. Both represented NSW in the Interstate Women’s Youth eight last year, claiming gold in the six and five seats, respectively. The pair continued their experience working together as part of the UTS U21 eight that finished in a respectable fourth at the 2025 ARC, with Swain’s ability to move a boat in more senior age groups earning her a place in the Australian U19 eight that competed in Lithuania in 2025. Swain’s ability to win isn’t new, with the young athlete also claiming three golds at the ARC in 2024 in the SG eight, U19 coxed four and U19 eight representing the formidable St Catherines. The experience of this crew in working together last year will give them an edge over some of their fellow competitors.
Mercantile – Lucy Gillon and Elosie Adem
The singular crew from out of state, Lucy Gillon and Elosie Adem, has gained some racing experience in local regattas in Victoria, which they will surely put to use against their northern rivals. Earlier this month, the crew claimed a gold in the U21 pair at the Rowing Ballarat Regatta, beating second place by nearly ten seconds. They backed themselves in the U21 coxed four to take gold once more. Lucy Gillon experienced the thrill of international racing, competing in the Prince Phillip Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta last year, undoubtedly making her accustomed to pressure. This combination may surprise its competitors despite being away from home water.
Sydney Rowing Club – Gemma McLaren and Madeleine Wark
This pair will aim to use their experience working together in SG rowing to edge out their competition, from clubmates to rivals alike. Both hailing from Queenwood School, they had similar success in the 2024/2025 season, competing in many of the same boats. Together, McLaren at seven and Wark at six, they claimed silver in the U19 eight and silver as the middle pair in the schoolgirl coxed four at last year’s ARC. Notably, as the middle pair, they connived to win the U19 coxed four at the NSW state championships in 2025, with commentators highlighting their skill in finding and maintaining a mid-race rhythm, which led to their outstanding win. This pairing will surely use their experience as a team to hold onto and move away from crews in the middle 1000m, making them ones to look out for.
Sydney Rowing Club – Zahra Taylor and Grace Bennett
Zahra Taylor and Grace Bennett make up the second Queenwood Alumni pair competing under the Sydney Rowing Club, whose 2024/2025 season is almost identical to that of Gemma McLaren and Madeleine Wark. Taylor and Bennett worked as two and bow seat in Queenwood’s U19 eight and U19 coxed four, taking home silver in both. Taylor earned herself a spot in Australia’s U19 eight, which competed in Lithuania, meaning she’ll race against many of her former crewmates at this regatta. This will be Bennett’s final small boats for many years to come, as she departs to row with Temple University starting in August of this year, a testament to her talent. This crew will be keen to stay in and amongst the highly competitive pack.
Prediction
I think the seniority and experience of the UTS combination of Madeleine Swain & Madeleine Manins will allow them to cross the line first and defend their title from last year. Despite this, they will be hotly contested by both the SRC combinations of pair of Tompson/Naito and Taylor/Bennett. I have no doubt the U19 Sydney University combination will be in hot contention for third, although at this point in the season, anything could happen.
