blair's first australian representative appearance was in the 1995 u/23 trans tasman series where she raced in a lightweight pair. her senior australian representative debut was the following year in a lightweight coxless pair at the 1996 world rowing championships, a lightweight only regatta in strathclyde, scotland. she raced with her victorian team-mate justine joyce to a fifth place. the following year at aiguebelette 1997 still paired with joyce, blair won world championship gold in a lightweight coxless pair.