Ranked: The best TSS rowing crews in history

The oldest school boat shed in the country has claimed 21 Head of the River victories since 1918 but which of The Southport School’s rowing crews are their best?

It’s fair to say that the Southport School has a rich rowing history. The oldest school boat shed in the country has claimed 21 Head of the River victories since 1918 and continues to produce champion rowers such as current First VIII coach and Olympic gold medallist Duncan Free. We were spoilt for choice, but here are the best First VIII crew in TSS history.

TSS First VIII after winning head of the river in 2018. Picture supplied.

2018 First VIII

Rumour has it that TSS is still petitioning to have 2018 renamed from the year of the dog to year of the underdog after their remarkable head of the river victory. The boys from Southport had to contend with a shocking gastro outbreak which shut down the school. The demolition forced them to miss the first two regattas and race with fill-ins throughout the season. In a photo finish sure to go down in history, TSS pipped hot favourite and fierce rival Nudgee by 0.97 seconds to claim their 21st Head of the River title. After losing to them by less than two seconds the year before, the sequel was even better than the original.

TSS FIRST VIII REVEALED AS SCHOOL AIMS TO GO BACK TO BACK

TSS’s 2006 First VIII after winning the head of the river. Picture supplied.

2006 First VIII

It was a finish so close you had to measure it in millimetres. In a bizarre set of circumstance, TSS were in the lead with less than 200m to go when they heard a buzzer from the crowd and stopped rowing thinking it was the finish line buzzer confirming their victory. They began to celebrate before realising their mistake and started up again as Churchie quickly made ground. A last stroke lunge saw them pip their Brisbane rivals by mere milliseconds after leading all day. Despite almost giving coach Duncan Free a heart attack, winning a race after stopping dead means the crew from 2006 will go down in history.

TSS’s 1985 First VIII after winning the head of the river. Picture supplied.

1985 First VIII

It was tipped to be one of the closest finals in years but TSS had other thoughts. As thousands lined the banks of Hinze Dam, the six boats all started strongly before Brisbane Grammar and TSS pulled ahead at the midway point of the race. The boys from Southport proved too powerful for Grammar, as they put the foot down with a few hundred metres to go and emerged victorious by two lengths to the delight of first year coach and former Olympian Islay Lee. It was their first win since 1978 and the crew backed it up with back to back wins in 86 and 87. They won again in 1989 and 1991, making it five wins from seven years. It was an incredible period of dominance for TSS which all started with the crew from 85.

WHAT’S THE REAL KEY TO TSS ROWING SUCCESS

TSS’s 1990 First VIII won 11 out of 13 races but couldn’t bring home the major prize. Picture supplied.

Honourable mention: 1990 First VIII

Despite not taking out Head of the River, the boys from 1990 still have a lot to smile about. The crew lost only 2 races from the 13 that season, the first and unfortunately the last. Despite the disappointing end to a dominant season, nine rowers from the 1990 shed went on to row for Australia at some level.

TSS ROWER’S RAPID RISE

Honourable mention: 1918 First VIII

It is fitting that Southport took out the inaugural Head of the River in 1918 which was then known as the All Schools’ race. There were only four starters on the day, Southport, Brisbane Grammar, Brisbane Boys’ College (then known as Clayfield College) and Technical College High School. The Southport quad crossed the line one and a half boat lengths ahead of Grammar to lay the foundations for the schools incredible history.