Rowing

BRUCE WRIGHT

Director of Rowing

Following on from the 2014 season that saw Mr Bryan Hain – Director of Sport – step in as Acting Director of Rowing, my subsequent appointment in August was designed to be a short-term measure in order to review and give subsequent recommendations for consideration by Mr Hain and Mr Wain about the structure of the TSS Rowing program and to take the appropriate steps towards building success into the future. With those recommendations now in the Director of Sports’ hands, I’m sure the boys, parents, Old Boys and supporters all hope that TSS Rowing can rebuild into the highly successful program both on and off the water we have witnessed in the past.

The 2015 TSS Rowing season will be etched in our records as successful for a number of reasons – for almost all our boys. A more transparent and whole of shed philosophy in terms of selection and programming was implemented, attributing to our crews’ impressive results, with the First VIII achieving third place and an overall second in the Old Boys Cup. We also unveiled some of the traditions that had gone missing over the past years, affirmed the School’s rowing pathway, with a number of the boys who had graduated participating in international regattas and representing Australia, with others also being offered entry into Australian and international universities based on their interest and abilities within the sport of rowing. Highlights included our performances at both the Junior Head of the River and the Annual GPS Head of the River Championships. In terms of a measure of the TSS boys’ achievement, our clear second place in the Old Boys Cup (overall points score with 12 designated crews Years 10-12) is reflective on the boys’ commitment and ability throughout the TSS Shed and for which every one of our boys should be duly proud.

On reflection, in terms of our third in the O’Connor Cup (First VIII Race), the boys representing the School should also be justifiably proud, as I believe they achieved the best result they physically and emotionally could with the challenges they faced. We also need to acknowledge the efforts of the Nudgee College crew, who were the fittest, and probably most importantly, mentally the strongest schoolboy crew that have competed in the GPS for many years, being undefeated throughout the season and also winning the national title in the Schoolboy Eights Championships.

While results are important, just as vital are the lessons learnt and the legacy that we contribute towards after the last boat leaves the water for the season. With the School developing its course and position on sport on a range of levels, continuity of direction and adapting to change is a natural evolution, especially for a sport that relies extensively if not totally on teamwork and what is best for the crew, not the individual.

In covering the highlights, it was certainly a pleasure to see the excitement and enthusiasm of over 200 boys becoming part of a 108-year history of the TSS Rowing Club. For the Years 8 and 9 rowers, a very significant milestone was seeing all the boys flourish in a sculling-based program that provided a more enjoyable and

rewarding environment for the boys to learn and measure their improvement through competition and racing in training. Having such a successful introduction to rowing for the Year 8 group has provided a platform for the challenges ahead, as we move into more competitive racing in Year 9. The TSS Community will also have to adapt to the changes in priority from the GPS, where Year 8 rowing is becoming a recreational program more than a competitive one. While not all schools actively drive the Years 7-8 program, the evidence of coordinated development programs throughout the year at a number of schools showed a new generation and expectation of commitment and investment in time and resources schools need to consider.

For the Year 9s, the season culminated in the Junior Head of the River and showed the development of depth within one of the more competitive GPS age groups, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a number of these boys develop into a very competitive group to represent our School over the next few years.

All the GPS crews showed a great deal of resolve and tenacity at the Head of the River and to have five out of the six eights achieving a podium finish, including three wins (Year 11 2nd and 3rd and Open 2nd Eights) was outstanding. The Year 10 Quads also showed great commitment alongside very fast crews, including Nudgee and Churchie.

Congratulations to all the boys and their coaches in all year levels for their dedication and determination to achieve so much in a stronger and more intense competitive program, and of course taking ownership and leading the way by example is what we need within the TSS Rowing Club. I am very pleased to see so many of the 2016 squad stepping up and identifying what they believe is best for the program and rowing culture at the School, and in taking on this responsibility, we all look forward to supporting the boys through their development and hope they can achieve the goals they set into the future.

Thanks again to the Rowing Support Group (RSG) for offering assistance in key areas of the program and the wonderful, selfless volunteers who offered their time throughout the season around the Shed, Camps and Regattas. Also special and sincere thanks to Daniel Trollope for his support and work assisting the program in addition to the many supportive parents and families who, with simple acts of kindness and words of encouragement, had the most significant effect on everyone trying that much harder for the boys and the School.

Finally, this season also offered insight into a key legacy that all sports like to promote in offering a development pathway. Now a successful structure – from rowing beginner to an elite performer – is well and truly in place. From the Learn to Row and Coxswain Identification and Development Program, through to celebrating Cormac Kennedy-Leverett becoming the Australian Schoolboys Singles Champion at the National Titles, held the week after the Head of the River, and most recently having followed and seen George Lethbridge gain selection in the Under 21 Australian Rowing Team. We again congratulate these oarsmen on their achievements.

For all our TSS Rowers in 2016 we wish you every success, remembering that nothing worthwhile is achieved by short cuts, and no matter what our individual goals and expectations may be, it is what is best for the crew, Shed and School that must always come first. I’m sure with the Pillars that the 2016 Shed have adopted we can continue to be proud of the boys involved in the most challenging but rewarding sport in the GPS.

Consistency Unity Discipline Respect

OPEN FIRST VIII

LEFT TO RIGHT: M. SIMMONS, J. HARDY, Z. MACFARLANE, B. LUND, J. GILES, S. SANDEMAN, L. FINLAY, C. KENNEDY-LEVERETT, S. SCOTT

YEAR 11 FIRST VIII

LEFT TO RIGHT: L. MYATT, B. GALLAGHER, L. UPFIELD, C. KAWALINASKI, J. LAYT, J. EGLINGTON, L. MAXWELL, J. MIBUS ABSENT: A. STEPHENSON

YEAR 11 THIRD VIII

LEFT TO RIGHT: D. HOPKINS, W. HARDY (COACH), R. SMITH, H. WHEATON, A. MURRAY, L. OXENFORD, B. RADEL, A. JANE, R. WOOD, Z. BRUCE

YEAR 10 SECOND QUAD OPEN THIRD VIII

LEFT TO RIGHT: MR I. HAWLEY, D. RADEL, D. MURICI, M. UNDERWOOD, S. PERKINS, A. BRIDLE, A. LEADER, S. CROOKSON-BUTLER, Z. QUINN, C. KROON

YEAR 11 SECOND VIII

LEFT TO RIGHT: T. LACEY, A. HALSTEAD, W. SCOTCHMER, C. PERT, P. GEE, E. HERZ, T. ATCHISON, D. FLYNN, J. GRAY

YEAR 10 FIRST QUAD

LEFT TO RIGHT: C. BOARDMAN, L. VINE, J. JONES, H. SMITH, F. MAHRONY-VITTA, MR K. RAMON (COACH)

YEAR 10 THIRD QUAD

YEAR 10 FIFTH QUADS

LEFT TO RIGHT: A. HOPKINS, M. BACKLER, P. MURTAGH, R. GALL, H. SCOTT, MR A. VELLA (COACH)

YEAR 10 SEVENTH QUAD

LEFT TO RIGHT: D. CONNOLLY, W. DOBRENOV, L. MEALIN ABSENT: J. FUHRMAN, L. NONA

JUNIOR NINTH QUAD

LEFT TO RIGHT: D. CONNOLLY, J. HAWKINS, T.J RIGBY, J. MURRAY YEAR 10 SIXTH QUAD

LEFT TO RIGHT: F. GILBERT, N. POYNTING, T. HALPIN, H. WALLER, W. CHIU, MR C. KAFRITSAS (COACH)

JUNIOR SIXTH QUAD

LEFT TO RIGHT: H. MARTIN, C. STEWART, G. NIELD, T. HOLIDAY

YEAR 8 FIRST QUAD

LEFT TO RIGHT: D. ROBERTSON, M. COSSILL, S. GIBSON, H. FRENCH, N. NEAL

YEAR 8 SECOND QUAD YEAR 8 THIRD QUAD

YEAR 8 FOURTH QUAD

LEFT TO RIGHT: B. WALLER, A. RIDGWAY, H. GRADY, C. WILSON, M. SMITH YEAR 8 FIFTH QUAD

LEFT TO RIGHT: J. ATTHOW, J. HUTCHISON-STRACHAN, L. WILLIAMS, T. VANDENBER

YEAR 8 SIXTH QUAD

LEFT TO RIGHT: W. PICKERING, W. WELCH, H. CHANDLER, H. CROOKS YEAR 8 SEVENTH QUAD

LEFT TO RIGHT: C. SELBY, N. FARLEY

ANDREW ROBERTSON

Junior Rugby Coordinator

Reception to Year 4

Oh what a season!

143 keen boys, 18 rounds, over 150 games, hundreds of tries, 22 coaches!

Over 11 teams entered and competed in the Saturday weekly in the Gold Coast competition. The 11 TSS U6 to U10s teams competed against the likes of the Helensvale Hogs, Eagles, Coomera Crushers, Nerang Bulls, Tamborine Mountain Warriors and Palm Beach Tigers.

U6 2 teams

U7 3 teams

U8 3 teams

U9 1 team

U10 2 teams

Sign-on began when summer sport was in full swing during Term One. Preseason season kicked off with a Rugby Carnival Day with support from Grant Anderson and his team at ‘The Rugby Academy’. This continued for the final three weeks of Term One.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SEASON Players: The boys’ commitment to developing their rugby skills this year. The high level of enjoyment and participation was always evident on the boys’ faces.

Supporters: The parent supporters were always entertained by fast-flowing rugby from every grade. Parents of the U6 teams often had to guide their sons to ‘run forward, not sideways… yes that way… no that way!, stay in a line, don’t bunch up… it was hilarious to watch as sometimes up to 10 adults would be yelling (in a positive way) their instructions. Thanks to the parents for transporting your sons to and from games and trainings. Coaches: The Rugby Academy, Rookies to Reds holiday and afterschool opportunities, Confidence in Contact sessions, teacher coaches and of course the parent coaches. Without these wonderful parents our teams would not be able to run. Thanks to the commitment and dedication from these parents. Without them we would not be able to run our rugby club. It was wonderful to see the banter between the coaches – typified by the ice-bucket challenge between Under 6 coaches Braidon Boniface and Heath Hill.

TSS V TSS With TSS teams in the same grades often our boys came up against one another, coach v coach, player v player, mate v mate… these were often the most intense games for the season for our boys.

Special mention must go Austin Whittikar and Ross Jurisich for their long-term commitment to coaching of TSS teams from the younger grades to this Year U10 teams. Both coaches led their respective teams with passion and skill. They went over and above to make sure their players got plenty of opportunities to develop their skills in a positive environment.

I look forward to continuing to support the program into 2016 and beyond.