The Golden Oar: Trophies worth fighting for

  • The Golden Oar: Trophies worth fighting for image

When Croatian legends Martin and Valent Sinković make their first trip to Australian waters on 1-2 November, they’ll be racing for more than bragging rights. The Golden Oar trophies represent something new in Australian rowing – a regatta that’s managed to attract genuine international talent alongside our best domestic athletes from day one.

The Sinković brothers, Croatia’s most decorated summer Olympians and arguably one of the greatest rowing crews in history, don’t show up for participation medals. Neither do Australian Olympians Tara Rigney and Harriet Hudson, who’ll be joining them in the Open Mixed Quadruple Sculls. And neither does the New Zealand crew of Logan Ullrich, Ella Cossill, Phoebe Spoors with Tokyo Olympic gold medallist Matt MacDonald onboard.

The trophies themselves speak to the nature of the competition. Purpose-designed for the Golden Oar, they’re substantial pieces that acknowledge this is a serious regatta with more than $100,000 in prize money earned from contesting three distinct and trying race formats across the weekend.

“The Golden Oar is going to be such an exciting regatta and I’m really looking forward to competing with and against probably the fastest mixed boats ever,” said Ullrich, who won gold at the 2025 World Cup in Lucerne.

MacDonald agrees: “Opportunities to race in a format like this don’t come around often. It will be a privilege to line up against crews of this calibre.”

For the U19, Masters, Club, and PR3 categories, the trophies represent something equally significant – recognition in an event that’s drawing international attention from day one. When emerging athletes and para-rowers compete at the same regatta as Olympic champions, with the same quality of silverware on offer, it sends a message about where Australian rowing is headed.

The Golden Oar medals, too, are event-specific designs that competitors will be proud to display. They’re tangible proof the rowers have competed on Lake Burley Griffin at the very start of something special.

The lake is ready. The crews are arriving. And yes, the trophies are polished. This weekend will show that the Golden Oar can deliver on its promise to bring elite international competition to Canberra – and award silverware, along with cash prizes, that are both just rewards.