Charlie Cox rowed for TSS in Head of the River last year and has labelled it one of the biggest moments of his life

“It was the biggest moment of my life and school experience.”Those are the words of 2019 First VIII rower Charlie Cox who is preparing to watch this year’s Head of the River as a spectator one year on from his stint in The Southport School’s most prestigious crew.

“It was the biggest moment of my life and school experience.”

Those are the words of 2019 First VIII rower Charlie Cox who is preparing to watch this year’s Head of the River as a spectator one year on from his stint in The Southport School’s most prestigious crew.

MEET THE TSS FIRST VIII

“It’s not just the First VIII that feels it, the weight of nerves and not letting down your school and crew,” he said.

“I didn’t really realise the extent of the pressure until we were presented to the school (at rowing assembly.

“We received a lot of messages of support from old boys and the wider TSS community about how they remember representing the school.”

Former TSS First VIII rower Charlie Cox. Pics Adam Head

Cox’s older brother Harry was part of the winning TSS First VIII in 2018 and younger brother Will is set to line up for the year nine first quad.

Cox is now studying economics at the University of Sydney and rowing for St Paul’s College but Head of the River 2019 will forever be etched in his memory as one of the biggest moments of his life.

The boarder recalls waking up a few minutes before he needed to be on the bus this time last year and being met with silence.

VIRUS SCARE HITS SPORTS TEAM AT COAST’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOL

“You usually sleep (on the trip to Wyaralong dam) but that morning was silence,” he said.

“There was a lot of nervous energy.

“When we go there, we got into a calmer state once we settled into the TSS tent.”

Taking his place in second seat, Cox said the crew remained relatively calm in the journey up to the starting line but it all changed once

“I remember looking out of the boat and seeing how nervous the other crews were and I distinctly remember one of the other boys vomiting out of the boat,” he said.

“When the gun went off, the noise was one of a kind, there were coxes screaming but you wouldn’t hear that level of noise anywhere else.”

The Southport School will compete in Head of the River this week. The crew on the water. (front to back) coxman Cameron Vele, Zach Nixon, Mackenzie Branch, Lachie Wright, Harry Ward, Baxter Stewart, Grant Callaghan, Kai Dittmar, Dylan Kennedy. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Despite finishing equal third in the race that counted, Cox still reflects fondly on Head of the River and has reached out to current rowers to share messages of support.

WILD WEATHER NO EXCUSE FOR ‘DISAPPOINTING’ RESULT

Head of the River kicks off at 8:10am tomorrow with the First VIII race slated for 11am.