A 93-year-old rower, international competitors, record school participation and hundreds of visitors from outside Western Australia have helped make 2026 a standout year of rowing at Champion Lakes.
The season came to a fitting close at the Rowing WA State Championships on 12 and 13 September, where West Australian Rowing Club claimed a memorable victory in the Open Men’s Eight.
It was the club’s first win in the event in more than six decades, with 93-year-old Alan Salisbury, the last remaining member of the club’s winning 1961 crew, there to see history made.
Alan, Rowing WA’s oldest member and remarkably still a competitor himself, gave the crew a pep talk before they launched for the race.
The victory capped a major season at Champion Lakes, with the City of Armadale’s Major Event Sponsorship supporting four championship events across the year: the Masters State Championships, Australian Masters Rowing Championships, All Schools State Championships and Rowing WA State Championships.
City of Armadale Mayor Ruth Butterfield said the series demonstrated the value of Champion Lakes as both a major sporting venue and a drawcard for visitors to the region.
“From school students developing their skills through to masters athletes who have spent decades involved in the sport, it has been wonderful to see so many people come together at Champion Lakes this year,” Mayor Butterfield said.
“What makes this partnership particularly valuable is its ability to bring people into Armadale from across Western Australia, interstate and overseas, while supporting participation and creating opportunities for our community to experience high-quality sporting events close to home.
“Champion Lakes is an incredible asset for our City, and this year’s events have once again demonstrated its capacity to host competition at a state, national and international level.”
The Australian Masters Rowing Championships were the series’ major national drawcard, attracting 663 athletes representing 77 clubs.
Of those competitors, 419, or 63.2 per cent, travelled from outside Western Australia, with athletes from every Australian state as well as South Africa, Great Britain, New Zealand and Thailand.
The benefits extended beyond the course, with 36 per cent of surveyed interstate visitors reporting they extended their stay in WA and 43 per cent of survey respondents spending more than $1,000 on accommodation, transport, food and beverages.
Around 700 people moved through the boat park area each day during the four-day championship, which was supported by 120 volunteers and 20 interstate officials.
Interest in the championships also extended beyond Champion Lakes, with tens of thousands tuning into the event livestream across the four days of competition, while the City’s Visitor Centre activation helped those attending discovered more of Armadale and the Perth Hills through local recommendations, travel inspiration and ideas for exploring the region.
There was plenty to celebrate on the water too. The national championships marked the first time since 2019 that Western Australia fielded all four state crews, with the Men’s Eight taking gold and the Women’s Eight securing bronze.
That momentum carried into the All Schools season, where participation reached a new record. The All Schools State Championships brought 446 young athletes and around 25 coaches to Champion Lakes, with Rowing WA estimating around 1,200 athletes, families and supporters attended on the day.
The wider All Schools series also demonstrated the regional and international reach of the venue. Great Southern Grammar travelled from Albany to compete, while nine athletes from the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club returned to Perth for the series.
Hosted through All Saints’ College and training from Curtin University Boat Club, the Hong Kong athletes won five medals during their visit.
Mayor Butterfield said the results demonstrated how sporting partnerships could create benefits beyond the competition itself.
“Major events bring people together, and they also introduce new visitors to our City and give us an opportunity to showcase everything Armadale and the Perth Hills have to offer,” Mayor Butterfield said.
“The numbers are fantastic, but behind them are hundreds of athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and families who spent time at Champion Lakes and became part of our community during the season.
“We are very proud to support Rowing WA and to see Champion Lakes continue to be a destination for major sporting events.”
The Rowing WA State Championships brought another 420 athletes to Champion Lakes over two days, closing a season that spanned generations and every stage of the rowing pathway.
“From young athletes beginning their competitive journeys, to interstate and international visitors, national champions and a 93-year-old rower watching his club make history more than six decades after his own win, the 2026 series showcased just how much can happen on one stretch of water.”
