The single scull boat class provides the opportunity for rowers to showcase their ability without the support of a crew behind them. The men’s open single scull event offers the highest level of individual racing in the state. This year’s event promises exciting competition, pitting emerging talent against more experienced athletes.
Fremantle Rowing Club: Jacob Cassey
Jacob Cassey is one of four Fremantle Rowing Club athletes competing for the state title. A successful 2024 – 2025 season saw him receive the bronze medal for the U23 lightweight single scull at the 2025 Australian Rowing Championships (ARC), proving his competence in a single. Moreover, his gold medal at the 2024 ARC in the U23 lightweight double scull highlights his ability to achieve on the national stage. Despite Cassey’s previous success in the U23 lightweight category, facing more experienced heavyweight athletes in this open event may prove a more formidable challenge. In any case, Cassey is undoubtedly a strong contender for this event.
Fremantle Rowing Club: Remy Payne
Another strong competitor from Fremantle Rowing Club is Remy Payne, who also saw success in a single at the 2025 ARC, coming second in the U21 category. While this achievement also points to his inexperience, Payne’s recent performance at the RWA Pennant Regatta in late August saw him prove his worth against his more experienced competition, returning with the silver medal from the men’s A grade single scull event. Interestingly, Payne raced many of the same competitors he will face in this open event this weekend. In light of his ongoing success, Payne will aim to climb one step above his recent second place to claim the gold medal.
University of Western Australia Boat Club: Ben Clayton
Ben Clayton, rowing for the University of Western Australia Boat Club (UWABC), will be setting his sights on the state title this weekend, after recently winning the A grade single scull at the RWA Pennant Regatta. His experience relative to the rest of the field will play to his advantage against younger competition, as he is one of the few athletes entered who competed in the open single scull at the 2025 ARC, earning a commendable place in the B final. Clayton’s appearance in the Western Australian interstate men’s eight last season and his second place at the 2025 State Indoor Championships solidifies him as one of WA’s premier athletes, and he appears to be aiming for even more success this year.
Western Australia Rowing Club: Jack Cleary
Jack Cleary, representing Western Australia Rowing Club (WARC), is another frontrunner for the open men’s single scull. The Tokyo Olympic Bronze medallist has had a low-key international season this year, finishing in the C-Final of the men’s double in Lucerne; however, he proved his worth at nationals in the bigger boats, notably winning the open men’s quadruple scull, the open men’s coxed eight sprint, and appearing in the Western Australian men’s interstate eight. More recently, Cleary competed in the single scull at the RWA Pennant Regatta, earning a bronze medal and displaying the individual ability that made him an asset to those crews. He will aim to further his success at the RWA State Championships by overturning Clayton and Payne to claim the title.
Prediction
The most likely outcome of the Champions Open Men’s Single Scull is to see Ben Clayton take the gold medal, due to his recent success, followed closely by Remy Payne in second place and Jack Cleary in third place. However, the competition is tight and seeing these contenders in any order in the top three would be unsurprising. Jacob Cassey seems to be best situated to disrupt the expected order, alongside other strong athletes such as Oliver Cliff, Joshua Handke and Daniel Holding, but ultimately I expect to see the experience of Clayton winning over the rest of the field.
