Great Scot September 2019 Great Scot 157_September 2019_ONLINE | Page 55

THE SCOTCH 1ST EIGHT WITH THE LEANDER CUP. L-R: MARCUS CAMERON, FRASER MISCAMBLE, MARCUS EMMETT, ARCHIE GILL, TOM MCPHAIL, SAM HOBSON,
JAMES SCOTT, JAMES ISLES, JOSH HILL.
the banks of the river, while large numbers of riverboats of all shapes
and sizes surround the course.
The Scotch quad scull consisted of athletes from the 2nd and 3rd
VIIIs, and was coached by Olympic champion Peter Antonie, assisted
by Luke Carey. The crew was very fortunate to be coached by Peter
Antonie, an Olympic and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, an
expert in sculling, and a great of Australian sport.
This division was coxless, meaning the crew was required to steer
the boat without a coxswain – a new challenge for them, along with
the focus on sculling rather than sweeping. The crew consisted of Leo
Price (stroke), Jack Cameron (3), Ben Symons (2) and Gus Permezel
(bow). The crew raced at Reading Town Regatta in the lead-up to
Henley Royal Regatta and gained valuable experience.
At Henley the quad scull beat Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School
in the first round of racing on Wednesday. Gaining a narrow early
advantage, the crew held this through to the finish. The following day
the crew was knocked out of the competition by Henley Rowing Club.
Prior to Henley Royal Regatta, the eight raced at several regattas.
They attended the National Greifensee Regatta in Zurich, Switzerland,
winning the open men’s eight division. They also raced in the Dutch
Student Rowing Federation championships in Rotterdam, winning the
men’s elite eight division from Gyas in a close race. At Henley Royal
Regatta the crew beat Bedford School on Wednesday, and then
St Paul’s School, Concord, USA on Thursday. On Friday, the crew
narrowly defeated Shrewsbury School after the crews were level late
in the race.
In the semi-final on Saturday the crew were level with St Paul’s
School from the UK for most of the race before winning by one third of
a length. Then the crew finished runner-up in the final on Sunday to a
bigger, stronger crew from Eton.
The crew performed well over the course of the regatta,
representing Scotch with distinction while dealing with plenty of
adversity, and without ever reaching their best. For its efforts, the crew
received the Leander Cup for the best performing overseas crew.
The eight consisted of Archie Gill (coxswain), Marcus Cameron
(stroke), James Scott, Sam Hobson, Marcus Emmett, Josh Hill, Tom
McPhail, Fraser Miscamble and James Isles (bow).
Thanks go to Principal Tom Batty for his strong support of the
crews, as well as to Vice Principal Rob McLaren and all of the
academic staff who helped the rowers in their efforts to compete at
a world class standard. The crews are thankful for the support of the
Cardinal Club, led by Andrew Murchie (‘77), and also for the generous
support of Philip Wright (‘69) and Robert Strang (‘64).
TOM WOODRUFF — 1ST EIGHT ROWING COACH
AND DIRECTOR OF ROWING
www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot
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