TSS Rowing - 1st VIII Tradition II

This year TSS Rowing Celebrates its 112th year since the boat club was first established in 1907 by
Charles Thorold. Initially, Thorold was brought into the school all the way from England to specifically start up the rowing program under the direct orders of the Headmaster, and founder of the school, Horace Henry Dixon. Rowing was the specific sport the Headmaster wanted in its early stages. This was primarily because he saw the sport's potential in developing character, and ultimately transforming young boys into men. Moreover, after the rowing program was finally implemented, the shed did not start competitively racing until 1909. These races involved racing nearby schools, but however, the main competition for the students was against rival boarding houses, off the banks of the school along the Nerang River.

History of the Shed:
In 1918, The GPS head of the river began, but in those days the race was known as the All School's Race. In 1922, the All Schools race was renamed the O'Connor cup and was first awarded. The O'Connor Cup was initially raced in fours, until 1954 when it was switched over to eights for the 1955 season; which to this day is still raced in eights. Since the beginning of the Head of the river/O'Connor cup, TSS has won the cup twenty-one times, making the sport of rowing the school's most highly accomplished sport, by winning the school its most amount of premierships in comparison to other sports. The TSS rowing shed is the oldest school rowing shed and boat club in Australia, which has a rich tradition that will continue to be passed on to present, and future generations of TSS rowers.

TSS O'Connor cup victories:
1918, 1920, 1921, 1923, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1959, 1970, 1978, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 2000, 2006, 2018.

Special thanks to TSS old boys, and ex-1st VIII members; Bruce Wright (84-85 ), Duncan Free (89-90), John Hillier (86,87) and also to Bryan Hain, the school's Director of Sport for providing us with the footage. All footage taken throughout this video was taken either at TSS, along the Nerang River, or at past HOTR races; which stretches all the way back to the opening of the schools' iconic clock tower in 1926 (as seen at the start of the video).

This video was inspired by the original 'Tradition' rowing video that was developed by the 1985 Head of the River winning crew.

Link to the original 1985 Tradition video:
   • TSS 1st VIII 1985 - TRADITION  

Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat

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