Anne Brodie Hill stands by her artwork during the 2026 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships.
Anne Brodie Hill is a local artist with much of her work showcasing Lake Lanier. In this issue she wears a new hat by reporting on her experiences during the 2026 NCAA Women’s Rowing National Championships held at Lake Lanier Olympic Park. The event took place during the last week in May.
Since moving to Gainesville and Lake Lanier in 1995, I have tried to take in all the exciting events that take place on the lake. As a signature member of the Georgia Watercolor Society and the American Society of Marine Artists, I am especially drawn to water- and boating-related subjects, which I often paint from the photographs I take.
My husband, Bob, kept an 80-foot houseboat at Lan Mar Marina (now Port Royale) as well as a Wellcraft speedboat, and we often cruised the lake taking photos of sailboats, speedboats, bridges, and fishing boats. After learning that the lake has 16 bridges, I realized they would make an excellent watercolor series.
I have also long loved the Olympics venue at Clarks Bridge. Since the 1996 Olympics, it has hosted many remarkable competitions, and recent additions – including a new boathouse and major improvements on the tower side – have made it even more impressive.
The crowd of spectators gather to watch the races on the “Big Screen.”
After learning that the NCAA Women’s Rowing Championships at Lake Lanier were coming here, I emailed Robyn Lynch, Director of Tourism and Regatta Chair, to ask how I could attend and take photographs. She kindly arranged media/photographer credentials and a parking pass near the venue.
Christina Santee-Moss, PR Director of Gainesville, was also extremely helpful in organizing media and photographer information at her table in the Boathouse.
Heading to the finish line.
The day before competition, Wednesday, May 27, athletes were setting up in the park near the Boathouse. I asked Fergus Mainland, a kind, young man from London who works for JRN, to take a photo of me beside two 8-by-8-foot panels created from my paintings from a previous race. That day marked the start of making new friends, reconnecting with longtime ones who were helping run the event, and taking nearly 600 photos!
I returned to the park on Friday morning, May 29. The NCAA had decided to run as many races as possible because thunderstorms were forecast for Saturday. Athletes can compete in rain, but they must leave their shells and the water if lightning is nearby. All Saturday races were eventually canceled.
Texas – Winners of the 2026 NCAA Women’s DI National Rowing Championship
The finals began Sunday morning. They proved to be a wild and exciting time.
Texas finished first overall and set a world record with an extraordinary time of 5:47 in the First Eight event.
Witnessing – and filming – this moment of rowing history here in Gainesville was simply unforgettable.
For additional coverage and results of the event, visit www.ncaa.com, www.exploregainesville.com or Instagram posts from several colleges, including Texas, Stanford, and Tennessee, which finished as the top three teams overall.
Story and Photos: by Anne Brodie Hill; Photo of Anne Brodie Hill: by Fergus Mainland
