There have been some very exciting results from our young men, past and present, at the Australian Rowing Championships which were held in Tasmania recently. One current student, two recent Old Boys and a past Head of the River winner raced in the 2021 Australian Rowing Championships held on Lake Barrington, Tasmania from Monday 22 March until Sunday 28 March.

Current Year 12 student and Captain of Boats Harry Nott (son of Old Boy Tom Nott (1984)) had a busy and successful regatta, competing in the Under 19 Men’s single scull, Under 19 Men’s double scull, Under 19 Men’s quadruple scull and the Schoolboy single scull events, winning bronze medals in the latter two races. The Schoolboy single scull medal on the final day of the regatta was won from the outside of the picturesque Lake Barrington course in lane eight and recognises Harry as the third fastest schoolboy single sculler in Australia and is due reward for his commitment to the sport over a number of years.

Recent Old Boys Christian Place (2019) and Maxwell Taylor (2020) both won multiple medals in the regatta. Particular congratulations must go Christian, who won five gold medals over the course of the regatta, including two wins in the space of 75 minutes on the first morning of finals and also represented Queensland in the interstate races to win the prestigious Men’s lightweight coxless four title for the Penrith Cup. Coached by fellow Old Boy Alex Ridgway (1992), Max Taylor was a member of the gold medal winning U19 Men’s coxless four. Further congratulations to Max on his selection in the U19 Australian Rowing Team to compete in the coxless four at the World Cup 3 Simulation Regatta set to be held in Penrith in June.

A slightly older Old Boy also experiencing a very successful regatta was Blaine Heseltine (2012), a member of the Churchie O’Connor Cup winning 1st VIII from that year. Blaine had a very busy week, primarily as a coach, but also proving he had lost none of his rowing ability by pulling on the colours of his University of Queensland Boat Club and collecting a gold and silver medal in the Club Men’s double scull and Open Men’s quad scull sprint events respectively. Blaine has been building a reputation as a quality coach in recent years, best demonstrated by coaching Brisbane Girls Grammar School (BGGS) to an historic first ever 1st VIII Head of the River win in the 2020 season. With the nucleus of this successful BGGS combination forming the basis of a strong squad from the University of Queensland, Blaine’s crews dominated the U19 Women’s events, winning the Coxed eight, Coxless pair and finishing first and second in the Coxless fours final. To complete the week, Blaine also co-coached the Queensland crew that finished second behind dominant home favourites Tasmania in the race for the Victoria Cup, the Interstate Women’s lightweight quad scull championship of Australia.

In a further twist of Old Boy involvement, Richard Dorrstein (1996) was one of the commentators for the championships.

Harry Nott (2021)

• Bronze x 2
  • Under 19 Men’s quadruple scull
  • Schoolboy single scull
• Under 19 Men’s single scull (B Final) – 8th
• Under 19 Men’s double scull – 5th

Max Taylor (2020)

• Gold x 1
  • Men’s Coxless 4
• Silver x 1
  • U19 Men’s Coxless pair

Christian Place (2019)

• Gold x 5
  • Open LW Men’s Coxless pair
  • Open LW Men’s Coxed eight
  • U23 LW Men’s Coxless four
  • U21 LW Men’s Single scull
  • Interstate Lightweight Men's Coxless four
• Silver x 1
  • Open Lightweight Men's Coxless four

Blaine Heseltine (2012)

As a Coach

• Gold x 2
  • Under 19 Women’s coxed eight
  • Under 19 Women’s coxless pair
• Gold & Silver
  • Under 19 Women’s coxless four
• Silver
  • Interstate Women’s lightweight quad scull

As a Rower

• Gold x 1
  • Club Men’s double scull
• Silver x 1
  • Open Men’s quad scull sprint (500m)

Christian Place (second from right) winning the U23 Men’s lightweight coxless four title.

Max Taylor (second from right) winning the U19 Men’s coxless four title.

Harry Nott (Year 12)