TSS Rowing: Lachie Wright is determined to steer his crew to victory after being appointed captain of the boats

As members of a rowing shed steeped in more than 100 years of tradition, The Southport School’s First VIII crew was always bound to develop rowing rituals of their own.

AS members of a rowing shed steeped in more than 100 years of tradition, The Southport School’s First VIII crew was always bound to develop rowing rituals of their own.

TSS Rowing First vIII Back Row : Dylan Kennedy , Mackenzie Branch , Lachie Wright Kai Dittmar Front Row : Grant Callaghan , Zach Nixon , Baxter Stewart , Harry Ward , Lockie Mactaggart Photograph : Jason O'Brien

Currently in their final phase of preparations for the GPS rowing season which kicks off today at Wyaralong dam, last night the First VIII crew held a crew dinner to reign in the start of their Head of the River push.

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“Every Friday night, we go and have a good meal before a race,” said 2020 captain of the boats Lachie Wright.

“It’s about making sure we’re close before the race and not too nervous come the big day.

“We try not to (talk entirely about rowing) and just to enjoy being around each other but we usually slip in the old rowing conversation.”

TSS Rowing First vIII Representative Lachie Wright . Photograph : Jason O'Brien

Wright, 17, first started rowing in year seven when he first started attending TSS as a boarder and is now set to enter his second year in the school’s most prestigious boat.

Having spent the last weekend of January at a testing rowing camp, Wright said his crew was mentally prepared for the rigours of a long season.

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From 20 kilometre rowing sessions one day to competing at the State championships the next, the First VIII crew managed to take out the Men’s under 19 eight to earn Queensland glory.

“No one likes the camps,” Wright said.

“It’s mentally tough to go from a camp to a race but that’s rowing.

“We thought that it would be a great opportunity (State Championships) for us to show what we are made of.

“We started off well and got to show what we’ve been training for the past few months.”

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Bestowed with the honour of captaining the boatshed, Wright said he was looking forward to cherishing his last year in the First VIII before pursuing a spot in the Australian team at the World Rowing Junior Championships.

“Ever since I started rowing, this is all I’ve wanted to do (row in the First VIII),” Wright said.

“We just want to win Head of the River.”

TSS will host the first regatta of the GPS rowing season today at Wyaralong dam with racing kicking off at 8am.