For the first time in its sixteen-year history, the Brisbane Grammarians Rowing Club competed at the Australian National Masters Rowing Championships. Held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre, nine Grammarians competed in twenty-one events over four days, including the Men’s Interstate Eight.

The event saw 964 rowers from across the country race the magnificent 2000 Olympics course 341 times in an array of boats and club combinations in a busy, competitive yet collegiate celebration of masters rowing.

Scott Austin, Jonno Tannahill, John King and their Queensland eight left nothing on the course finishing fifth behind the dominant South Australians. Jonno backed up to win his heat in the ‘A’ double scull, placing fifth in the final with another close-run fifth in the final of the ‘A’ single scull. Scott also took on the country’s best solo oarsmen in the ‘E’ single scull before Jonno, Scott, John and Paul Baxter combined in the Men’s ‘D’ quad scull with a solid row that was a canvas short of reaching the final.

John King (2 seat), Scott Austin (4 seat) and Jonno Tannahill (5 seat) in the Queensland Masters Eight and the Grammarians 'E' Eight enjoying rowing on the Sydney 2000 Olympic course.

In the ‘E’ pairs final, Marcus Mulholland and Scott lost a tight tussle for fourth ahead of Brett Cribb and Paul in fifth before Paul and Michael “Beestie” Beeston rowed the ‘F’ pairs final.

The Grammarians eight of Brett, Beestie, Peter Row, Greg “Disco” Miller, Marcus, Scott, Paul, and John rowed twice. First, coxed by Commercial’s Lauren Robinson in the ‘E’ eight final and again in the ‘Club Championship’, a handicap race for single club (non-composite) crews for which Cribby stepped into coxing duties and Jonno into bow seat for a tightly fought tussle with Old Collegians, who prevailed by half a length.

The “Bow four” detached to compete in the ‘F’ coxless four final, whilst Peter, Disco, Beestie and Paul rowed through the Brisbane & GPS crew from a length down to avoid the wooden spoon in the ‘D’ coxless four final.

A highlight of these regattas is the opportunity to row in mixed crews. Peter, Beestie and cox-Cribb and the ladies from Noosa kicked things off in the second race of the regatta in the Mixed ‘E’ four. Husband & wife crew of Brett and Carolyn rowed the Mixed ‘D’ double, and Scott combined with Noosa and Toowong to pip John and his Toowong and Storm King Boat Club (Stanthorpe) crew in the final of the Mixed ‘E’ quad scull.

Beestie enjoyed rowing the Mixed ‘E’ pair with Lee, whom he taught to row at Wide Bay Rowing Club in Maryborough before reuniting with Peter, Disco, Marcus and the ladies from Noosa, Dragons and Albert Park (Melbourne) for an eventful outing and a blanket finish in the Mixed ‘E’ eight. John and Scott rowed in a composite Grammarian, Commercial, Toowong and Murwillumbah Mixed ‘D’ Eight.

Mixed, composite crews are an enjoyable and competitive part of rowing at Masters Nationals.

Competition off the water was equally intense, with a late-night debate about the philosophy of hamburger cooking escalating to a fully-fledged cook-off. Carb chasing rowers were happy to test the “Beestie Burger” against the “Baxter Burger” and the nuances of a basic-versus-bougie-burger as the Grammarians brought some row hard, play hard fun to the Championships with a course-side BBQ.  A winner has not yet been announced however consensus is building around a Beestie paddy in a Baxter ‘ensemble’.

Good times on and off the water, including the "Beestie Burger" vs "Baxter Burger" cook-off challenge.

This was a memorable and enjoyable event, with thanks to Scotty, Cribby and Jonno for organising the touring party, race schedule and crews and to Beestie for the logistics and getting a trailer load of boats from Maryborough & Brisbane to Penrith and back.

Next year’s National Championships will be held at the Champion Lakes Regatta Centre in Perth, May 27-30, 2026. 

The Club welcomes Old Boys and parents of students or parents of Old Boys to return-or-learn to row and join the fun. Contact: secretary.bgrc@gmail.com.au to learn more.

Tickets are still available for the BGSOBA Sportsman’s lunch, to be held on Friday 8^th August at the Pullman Hotel.  This year’s event will celebrate the 15^th Anniversary of the Grammarians Rowing Club and feature Paddy Holt and Logan Ullrich, Grammar’s most recent Olympian oarsmen as guest speakers.