Rowsellas Stars Shine at 2026 Hancock Prospecting Rower of the Year Awards
The Australian rowing community has come together to celebrate this season’s achievements and contributions to the sport at the 2026 Hancock Prospecting Rower of the Year Awards.
Held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney on Saturday 14 November, the event brought together Olympians, Paralympians, World Champions, coaches, officials, volunteers and distinguished alumni to recognise excellence across Australian rowing.
The Rowsellas, the Australian Rowing Team, won 12 medals across the senior, U23 and U19 World Rowing Championships in 2026, and 3 more at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals. At senior level that included 5 medals in Olympic events and 2 in Paralympic events. The U23 Team recorded its best result in over a decade, and Australia won its first world beach sprint title. Hancock Prospecting has supported the team for over a decade, backing athletes to represent Australia on the world stage.
Patron of Rowing Australia, Mrs Gina Rinehart AO, congratulated the athletes on their season:
“Australian rowing has enjoyed many wonderful achievements this year, from our senior and Para rowers at the World Championships, through to the success of our Under 23 and Under 19 teams, and I warmly congratulate all those who wore the green and gold and did their very best to represent their country. Very warm congratulations to each of those who achieved medals, and to every athlete who earned the privilege of wearing the green and gold.
“No rower reaches the finish line by expecting that someone else do the work for them. As in the world outside rowing, success needs everyone undertaking their responsibility, and working hard, even when difficult.”
The night’s most prestigious honour, the Gina Rinehart AO Rowing Leadership Award, went to Giorgia Patten OLY. The award, personally selected by Mrs Rinehart, recognises an athlete for exceptional character, commitment and achievement within the sport. Patten is a leader among her fellow athletes, earning their respect through her devotion to the team and the standards she sets for herself.
The coveted 776BC Rowers’ Rower of the Year was awarded to Lachlan Doust, recognised by his peers as an athlete whose integrity, commitment, and character create a positive influence on everyone around them.
Female Crew of the Year went to the Women’s Four of Georgie Rowe OLY, Jacqui Swick OLY, Bronwyn Cox OLY and Giorgia Patten OLY, who won silver at the World Rowing Championships in a time inside the previous World Best Time. The Men’s Pair of Alex Hill OAM OLY and Angus Dawson OLY won Male Crew of the Year after winning silver at the World Rowing Championships and gold at World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne.
In Para rowing, Rowsellas stalwart Erik Horrie OAM PLY took out Para Crew of the Year in the PR1 Men’s Single Sculls after winning silver at the World Rowing Championships. The result completed a full set of World Championship medals for Horrie, 46, who now has five gold, one silver and three bronze.
Isabella Scammell was awarded the Commonwealth Games Australia Beach Sprint Crew of the Year after winning the Coastal Women’s Solo at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals, Australia’s first-ever world title in the new discipline. Beach Sprints makes its Olympic debut at LA28.
Mrs Rinehart acknowledged the success of the team this year, speaking of the commitment and standards behind their results:
“The standards you accept, the habits you form, the way you respond to disappointment, and whether you are prepared to work harder even when things do not go your way, and things look so hard, will help determine the kind of athlete and the kind of Australian you become.
“For more than a decade, I have been proud to serve as Patron of Rowing Australia and, through our private company, Hancock Prospecting, to support our rowers. I respect your discipline, your resilience, your good natures, your teamwork, your hard work, your desire to represent our country to the very best of your ability, and your willingness to achieve through your own efforts and hard work, qualities that make outstanding rowers and outstanding Australians.”
The evening also celebrated outstanding leadership, service and coaching across the sport.
Fearnley Szuster was a deserved recipient of the Service to Rowing Award for over six decades of service to rowing, in almost every capacity the sport offers. The Win Well Vocational and Educational Award, which acknowledges athletes balancing their High Performance commitments with academic and career pursuits, went to Patrick Long.
James Loveday and Spencer Turrin OAM OLY were joint winners of the High Performance Coach of the Year Award for their outstanding leadership of Australia’s Beach Sprint Rowing Team.
In closing out the night, Rowing Australia CEO Sarah Cook OLY thanked the AIS and ASC for their continued support, acknowledged more than a decade of backing from Mrs Rinehart and Hancock Prospecting, and spoke to the excitement and momentum that is building across the Rowsellas and the broader rowing community as the push towards LA28 continues:
“The support of the AIS and ASC as our major partner is pivotal to all we do at Rowing Australia, and we are so grateful for your partnership.
“It’s been an exceptional year, but make no mistake, we’re only getting started.
“Thank you to our Principal Partner, Hancock Prospecting, and our Patron, Mrs Rinehart, for over a decade of unwavering support to Rowing Australia and the Rowsellas. Their backing is truly appreciated, and it was fitting that we could celebrate this milestone with the inauguration of the Gina Rinehart AO Trophy at this year’s Australian Rowing Championships.
“There is more work to do as we build towards LA28 and beyond. But when I look at the way our athletes are training, competing, backing each other and performing as one team, I know they’re ready for the challenge. And so are we.”
2026 Hancock Prospecting Rower of the Year Awards Winners List
776BC Rowers’ Rower of the Year: Lachlan Doust
Gina Rinehart AO Rowing Leadership Award: Giorgia Patten OLY
Win Well Vocational and Educational Award: Patrick Long
Service to Rowing Award: Fearnley Szuster
Para Crew of the Year: Erik Horrie OAM PLY, PR1 Men’s Single Sculls
Female Crew of the Year: Women’s Four – Georgie Rowe OLY, Jacqui Swick OLY, Bronwyn Cox OLY, Giorgia Patten OLY
Male Crew of the Year: Men’s Pair – Alex Hill OAM OLY, Angus Dawson OLY
Commonwealth Games Australia Beach Sprint Crew of the Year: Coastal Women’s Solo – Isabella Scammell
Pathways Crew of the Year: Under 23 Women’s Pair – Imogen Grey, Lucy Searle
High Performance Coach of the Year: Spencer Turrin OAM OLY & James Loveday
Club / School Coach of the Year: Brendan Long
Pathways Coach of the Year: Randall Martin
School Program of the Year: Gippsland Grammar
Program of the Year: University of Western Australia Boat Club
High Performance Club of the Year: University of Queensland Boat Club
Volunteer of the Year: Drew Ginn OAM OLY & the Mercantile Radio Team
Official of the Year: Luke Forsyth
Club of the Year: Renmark Rowing Club & Mercantile Rowing Club
Life Member Inductees: Tim McLaren OAM OLY, Kathryn Ross PLY & Colin Smith
