BBC Rowing Team Aims for Another Historic Henley Royal Regatta Win

The Brisbane Boys’ College rowing team is on the cusp of making history once again as they set their sights on repeating a 30-year-old victory at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta in England. 



Established in 1916, the BBC Rowing Club has a long-standing tradition of excellence in rowing, with its first Head of the River win in 1919. In 1993, BBC achieved an unprecedented feat by becoming the first Australian school to secure the coveted Princess Elizabeth Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta. Today, the team aims to etch their names in the annals of rowing history once more as they prepare for the 2023 event.

The 2023 Henley Royal Regatta will be raced over six days from 27 June to 2 July 2023.

The remarkable journey of the BBC rowing team is a testament to the transformative power of dedication and teamwork. Merely five years ago, the team found themselves struggling but under the guidance of Director of Rowing, Zoltan Shepherd, the team underwent a significant cultural shift that paved the way for their resurgence. 

 As the team sets their sights on Henley, they have demonstrated its dedication by intensifying its training regimen. The chosen crew, comprising eight Year 12 boys, has been training rigorously, including nine weekly sessions, five of which take place on the river. 

Although BBC stands as the strongest representative, the crew will have to wait for the final confirmation in June. Plans are already in motion, with boat rentals arranged from Oxford University and training facilities secured at a rowing club in Maidenhead. 

However, the journey to Henley does not come without its challenges. The financial burden of participating in such a prestigious event necessitates significant fundraising efforts. The BBC rowing team, with the support of parents, staff, and Old Collegians, organised a fundraising carwash to alleviate some of the costs.  



Furthermore, the school, families, and alumni have contributed, but additional sponsors are still needed to ensure a smooth and successful campaign.

Those who wish to donate and support the BBC Rowing 2023 Season Fundraising, may visit the Australian Sports Foundation website here.

Published 30-May-2023

Toowong’s Brisbane Boys College Sets Unprecedented Record Of 5 Consecutive Tennis GPS Titles

The prestigious GPS schools sporting competition gathered a new record recently, when Brisbane Boys College became the first school in any sport to complete five consecutive championships, when their Tennis team completed their fifth consecutive win.

The GPS tournaments(stands for Great Public Schools) are a sporting program, first started in 1918, covering 16 sports and activities amongst 9 schools:

BBC’s five-year winning streak comes on the back of previous BBC wins in 2006, 2007, and 2008; although Brisbane Grammar School and Ipswich Grammar School tied for the top spot in 2009, dashing BBC’s hopes for a four-peat win for that year.

Just four years after losing the top spot in 2009, the BBC team regained their premier standing via a three-way tie with Brisbane Grammar School and Nudgee College in 2013, and has been unbeatable since then.

Since the start of the GPS sporting competitions in 1918, the BBC tennis team has had 12 first place wins. They scored outright wins in the 1983, 1987, 2006-2008, and 2014-2017 championships, as well as shared wins in 1934, 2011, and 2013.

The team represented Australia in schoolboy tennis in Qatar in March 2015, where they placed fourth. That was not the first time the team traveled overseas to represent their school and country; in 2008, they also travelled to compete in Poland.

The team’s excellent standing has been attributed to the well-executed professional training program that their Director of Tennis, Chris Rolph, has implemented for the boys from Prep to Year 12. Mr. Rolph has introduced primary and secondary students to the game and aims to develop tennis players at all levels. The school’s program is now aligned with the program used by Tennis Australia’s qualified coaches.

Brisbane Boys’ College Tennis Program from Brisbane Boys’ College on Vimeo.

Mr. Rolph carries an extensive background in coaching, teaching and administration. His previous roles included manager of the Queensland Secondary School Tennis Team.

In 2016, the team also welcomed Ben Mitchell to the coaching team, Ben reached the Wimbledon Junior final in 2010 and played on the pro circuit at a very high level.

A dedicated staff member has also been assigned to assist with the tennis program’s needs. Tennis has really become an integral part of the school’s curriculum.

Could a six-peat be on the horizon for next year? Given the way the team has been playing, it seems likely that the BBC tennis team will continue to make GPS history.