Rowing at TSS

TSS Rowing is offered to boys in Year 8-12 in Term 4 and Term 1 culminating with the Qld GPS Head of the River in March each year. Training consists of water and land-based activities including various camps throughout the season.

Our Director of Rowing, John Smyth, and First VIII coach, Cameron Kennedy, have 40+ years of coaching experience between them in Australia, Canada, and the UK. Additionally, our rowers are well supported by a knowledgeable and passionate group of 25+ coaches and S&C staff.

Over the years, TSS Rowing has produced many Queensland and Australian reps who have earned national and international success. Notably, Duncan Free (Atk 1990) was a First VIII champion, an Olympic Champion (2008) and coached TSS to O’Connor Cup wins in 2006 and 2018. Cormac Kennedy-Leverett (Bid 2017) and Tobiah Goffsassen (Walker 2023) are current members of the Men’s Australian Rowing Team.

TSS Rowing has benefitted from sustained popularity due to its on-campus boatshed and training facilities as well as continued success from its inception. The boatshed is at the heart of our rowing community with daily breakfasts, regular events, and the famous bell-ringing ceremony after each regatta. In recent years, the shed has boasted 220+ rowers.

The O’Connor Cup is awarded to the First VIII Champions at the season-ending Head of the River. The Southport School was the first school to receive this trophy in 1918 and has added a total of 22. The Old Boys Cup was introduced in 1988 to recognise the most successful school at the Qld GPS Head of the River. TSS has taken home the Old Boys Cup on 8 occasions and is the current three-time defending champion.