The 2026 Wendouree Ballarat Regatta serves as a crucial benchmark for all athletes and a great preparation opportunity for the 2026 Victorian State Championship, as both are held at the Lake. By putting their best foot forward this week, crews can give themselves a great step in the right direction for the State Championships held on the 1956 Olympic course.
The open women’s pair event sees minimal entries this year, perhaps due to the Rowing NSW small boats regatta at SIRC at the same time, chasing the higher standard of competition on offer in Sydney and to maximise preparation for the NSW and National Championships. However, the racing in Ballarat will include a field of two crews, both from rowing clubs rich with history – Mercantile and Banks.
Mercantile
The Mercantile combination includes two highly decorated rowers: World Champion Duel Gold medallist and Australian Olympic Athlete, Robyn Selby Smith, and U23 Australian representative Anna Morrison. This unique combination has serious potential, with lots of pedigree on its side and forecasted great conditions. There is no reason this combination won’t create some high speed.
Robyn Selby Smith won dual World Rowing Championships in 2005, winning the women’s coxless four and women’s eight, then going on to represent Australia in the 2012 London Olympic Games, coming sixth – a phenomenal career. Having retired from international rowing after the London games, Selby Smith has reemerged in the sport, competing recently in the Mercantile open women’s eight and both the Melbourne Head Regatta and the Head of the Yarra. On the other hand, Anna Morrison is an emerging Mercantile prospect making her big break last season, representing Victoria in the Queens Cup (second) and the Australian U23 women’s eight (eighth). With so much experience in this combination, it’s hard to see them being defeated on the lake.
Banks
The Banks’ combination of Jenisi Kelderman and Octavia Thompson comes into the regatta with less national or international experience, but more as a pair. Having raced together in previous regattas this season, unlike the Mercantile pair, this could prove to be a key advantage if conditions worsen on the day, as they often do in Ballerat. Perhaps an upset is on the cards.
Predictions
I can confidently predict that the Mercantile pair will get the job done against the Banks crew, but they won’t go down without a fight.
