The Tasmanian Club Championships is a staple regatta in Australia’s most southern state’s rowing calendar. This year, many crews will get to try out all sorts of combinations, giving their clubs and coaches insight into what to train in the lead-up to another home nationals. The open women’s eight is a great example of this, with this year being a straight match race between top club, Tasmania University and one of Launceston’s finest schools, Scotch Oakburn.
Tasmania University Boat Club
Leading the boat is Kate Oliver, who had some commendable results in the open age events at last year’s Australian Rowing Championships, including a sixth in the single, fifth in the double and representing Tasmania in the Queen’s Cup. Behind her is Matilda Cocker, who finished last year’s nationals with a gold in the U21 quad, an incredibly close fourth in the U19 double, and selection into Tasmania’s youth eight. This boat features two other youth eight representatives, Olivia Walter and Lilly Barker, who both reached multiple finals in their respective U21 events at that regatta. Fellow Tasmanian representative Jane Hilliard will join the others, having competed in the Queen’s Cup in 2025. Bella Wells will be competing in her first club season after graduating from the Friends School Last Year. She’s joined by fellow first-year club member and 2025 schoolgirl single finalist Sarah Tomas. Finally, Imogen Stewart, Victoria Cup champion, will bring the deft touch that secured her state victory in 2025 to the bow seat of this crew. With a combination of young and experienced athletes, this crew will be sure to power down the course.
Scotch Oakburn
Scotch Oakburn saw success across a range of events at nationals last year, with this boat including five returning members of that crew. That eight achieved a commendable sixth place in the schoolgirl eight last year, with individual members gaining success in other disciplines. Of these members, Isabella Wilson, Maddison Marshall and Emily Knaggs took home silver in the U19 coxless four, with Marshall and Chaeli Barron narrowly taking fourth in the U19 pair. The final returning member, Ailish Barron, crossed the line in fourth place in the U17 double. Our three newcomers to the boat of Saffron Dick, Emily Atherton and Harriet Woolley will be sure to make an impression and join the rhythm of their older crewmates. Despite being a schoolboat in the open division, they are no strangers to fierce competition.
Prediction
I back the experience of the older TUBC crew to take home the win in this event, although Scotch Oakburn will undoubtedly use this racing experience to aid their upcoming nationals campaign.
