"VAN" (Sports Desk - 21.03.2026) :: The 2026 Australian Rowing Championships (ARC26), presented by Events Tasmania, will be officially opened on Monday, March 23, and will celebrate a decade of partnership with Hancock Prospecting and Rowing Australia’s Patron, Mrs Gina Rinehart AO.
For Rowing Australia, the occasion is an opportunity to proudly acknowledge the unwavering support of Hancock Prospecting, whose commitment is the bedrock of the hard work, resilience and success that defines our sport nationwide.
In 2026, we mark a significant milestone - ten years of support from our Patron, Mrs Rinehart - a decade defined by the Australian spirit, embodied in the relentless pursuit by our athletes at the pinnacle of athleticism; striving to proudly represent our country with pride on the world stage.
Through Hancock Prospecting’s backing, our athletes will showcase their extraordinary talent at our flagship and world-class event; the Australian Rowing Championships, providing the elite arena where our nation's greatest athletes are forged and inspiring the future generations racing alongside them at this iconic venue. This enduring partnership has been instrumental in building depth across the sport and ensuring Australian rowing remains strongly positioned to deliver success leading into the 2028 and 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Hancock Prospecting Executive Chairman, Mrs Rinehart, said: “Our rowers represent so much of our great Australian spirit, as they work hard and drive themselves to represent our country with pride and to the very best of their ability.
“I wish all athletes the very best in their endeavours throughout the course of the week and I, like thousands of other Australians, will be cheering them on as they give it their all.”
The ARC26 Opening Ceremony will be hosted by proud Tasmanian and President of the Australian Olympic Committee, Ian Chesterman AM. The Championships will be held at the iconic Lake Barrington from 23-29 March, with the support of our Major Events Partner, Events Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government.
Also attending Monday’s Opening Ceremony for ARC26 will be current and aspiring Olympic and Paralympic rowers from each State and Territory represented at the Championships. The defending champion States will formally return the Interstate Championship trophies won in 2025 in a show of declaration that all trophies are up for grabs in 2026.
A record 2,100 athletes will compete at Lake Barrington in the battle for national title honours at the ARC26 and then for bragging rights in the Interstate Regatta on the penultimate day of racing.
The week is also the launch pad to Australia’s international campaign that will lead to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, and ultimately to the 2032 Brisbane Games. Off the back of the Championships, Rowing Australia will select the Australian Rowing Team (ART) for the 2026 World Rowing Cups and underage World Rowing Championships.
The journey ahead for Australia’s top rowers towards the 2028 and 2032 Olympics and Paralympics will be exciting and challenging. Few know better about such a journey than Ian Chesterman AM, who is an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member and one of Australia’s most credentialled sports administrators.
Chesterman’s first Olympics were the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary as a media representative. He has since attended eleven more Games, seven as Australian Team Chef de Mission, including six Winter Games and the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games.
The only Australian to have led teams across Winter and Summer Games, Chesterman also served on the Executive of the AOC since 2001 and was AOC Vice President from 2016 until being elected President in 2022. He is also Vice President of Organising Committee for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games and an Executive Member of the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC).
“Rowing is one of Australia’s largest and most successful Olympic sports,” said Chesterman.
“During my time in the Olympic movement, Rowing has created some of the most memorable and significant moments that have captured the heists of the Australian people and enriched our sporting history.”
“This includes the ‘Oarsome Foursome’ winning back-to-back gold in 1992 and 1996, Kim Brennan winning gold in the single sculls at Rio in 2016, and that unforgettable ‘Hour of Power’ at Tokyo 2020 in which time Australian crews won gold medals in the men’s and women’s fours, and bronzes in the men’s and women’s quad sculls.
“We have such great depth of talent in Australia to select our crews from, and it will be showcased again at this year’s Australian Rowing Championships at the magnificent Lake Barrington venue.
“It’s also exciting to see such strong participation numbers at these Championships as the Olympic journey to Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032 begins picks up speed.
“I wish everyone the very best of luck for the regatta at Lake Barrington in the beautiful state of Tasmania.”
The ARC26 and Interstate Championships are Rowing Australia’s premier event with the nation’s best rowers competing in world class conditions and facilities. Rowing Australia Chief Executive Officer and Olympian, Sarah Cook OLY, recognised the
extraordinary impact that the decade of partnership with Hancock Prospecting and Mrs Rinehart has had on the sport.
“Thank you to our Principal Partner Hancock Prospecting and to our amazing Patron Mrs Gina Rinehart AO, for the unwavering support of Australian rowing over many years and our incredible athletes who will showcase their talent and dedication throughout the Championships. This partnership has been truly transformative for Australian rowing, playing a formative role in elevating our high-performance program and providing our athletes with the support, stability, and opportunity required to succeed on the world stage.”
“Without this support, which extends year-round, our flagship events like the Australian Rowing Championships wouldn’t be possible.
“It’s also a tremendous honour to have Australian Olympic Committee President Ian Chesterman officially open the 2026 Australian Rowing Championships, and we thank the Australian Olympic Committee for their support,” said Cook.
“We are delighted to be back at the beautiful and beloved Lake Barrington and are incredibly grateful for the support of the Events Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government as our Major Events Partner.
“With record entries once again this year, it’s shaping up to be a fantastic week of racing - from our world-class ‘Rowsellas’ through to the very best schoolboy and schoolgirl crews from across the country, fresh from their respective Head of the River competitions.
“The week builds towards the Interstate Regatta and culminates in the iconic King and Queen's Cup races, which remain one of the great spectacles of Australian sport and a proud tradition within our rowing community.
"Thank you to Rowing Tasmania and the local community for their tremendous support once again, and especially to all our incredible volunteers, officials, and staff who without this week would simply not be possible."
Responses
Leave your comment