The Coxswain's Journey - In the sport of rowing!

In this casual convo, I sit down with Mario Laing from Lake Eildon Rowing Club to have a chat about his commitment to 100 consecutive days of rowing training. We talk through why he started, what he’s learned along the way, and how the reality didn’t always match the expectations—especially on the tougher days. A key theme that comes through is discipline. Not motivation, but the ability to keep t...

This is a huge episode bringing together our highly experienced and knowledgeable panel to cover the absolute peak of the Victorian rowing calendar. I’m joined, as always, by the doyen himself Alan Crute from Rowing Regatta Form Guides and Chat , alongside Campbell Roberts from Campbell’s APS Rowing Review , and Kat Dunell, rowing guru and passionate parent, to break down all the key moments from...

In this episode, I’m joined again by Alan Crute from Rowing Regatta Form Guides and Chat , along with expert rowing parent Kat Dunel, to preview the upcoming 2026 Victorian Head of the Schoolgirls' Regatta taking place this weekend. Around 2100 athletes will take to the Barwon River in Geelong for the biggest event on the Australian schoolgirl rowing calendar. We run through the Seniors, Inter...

As the Victorian school rowing season builds toward its crescendo, I chat with two of the most knowledgeable voices in the sport for a comprehensive preview of the championship regattas. Alan Crute from Rowing Regatta Form Guides and Chat breaks down the schoolgirls' season and gives his insights heading into the Victorian Heads of the Schoolgirls Regatta . Who’s peaking at the right time? Whi...

Episode 5: Beyond the Finish — Celebrating, Learning & Recovering Crossing the finish line isn’t the end of the Head of the Yarra — it’s the start of reflection, recovery, and celebration. In this final episode of Inside the Coxswain’s Mind , we look at what happens after the race and how to carry those lessons forward. We cover: What to do immediately after the finish line How to debrief resu...

Episode 4: Regatta Day — Strategy, Timing, and Crew Mindset Race day — the moment everything comes together. In this episode, we talk about how to manage the pressure, logistics, and mindset of Head of the Yarra day so your crew can perform at their best. We cover: Arrival timing, rigging, and warm-up routines The coxswain’s role in setting the tone — calm leadership vs. fired-up motivation Managi...

Episode 3: Fueling for Endurance — Diet & Hydration Before HotY The Head of the Yarra is a long, demanding race — and how you fuel your body can make all the difference. In this episode, Jen, from Toowong Rowing Club , and I explore what to eat and drink in the lead-up to the 8km race so you can perform at your best on the day. We cover: What your body needs for sustained endurance How to appr...

Episode 2: Reading the River — The Course, Conditions & Steering The Head of the Yarra course is unlike any other in Australia — 8 kilometres of winding bends, bridges, and heavy river traffic. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the course itself and what it takes to steer it well. Again, join me and Jennifer Pollock from ⁠Toowong Rowing Club⁠ , where in this episode we cover: The major...

Episode 1: Training for the Challenge — Building Your Crew for HOTY The Head of the Yarra isn’t just another regatta — it’s 8 kilometres of rhythm, teamwork, and endurance. In this episode, we break down how to prepare your crew for the challenge of Australia’s biggest head race. Join me and Jennifer Pollock from Toowong Rowing Club , where we cover: Why HOTY demands a different training approach...

In this live show, we assembled an expert panel to break down everything you need to know across all levels of the sport — from masters and school rowing to club competition. Joining us are some of the most knowledgeable voices in the rowing community: 🔹 Alan Crute – The man behind Rowing Regatta Form Guides and Chat , bringing his sharp insights and deep understanding of the competitive schoolgi...

The Australian Rowing Championships are in full swing, and you won't want to miss our exclusive behind-the-scenes preview! Special guests:- Campbell from "Campbell's APS Rowing Report" will dish out all the latest gossip ahead of the Finals for the schoolboys races from Barrington, Tasmania And of course, Alan Crute from "Rowing Regatta Form Guides and Chat" joins as our regular panelist to previe...

The season has flown by, and after months of early mornings, relentless training, and countless hours on the water, it all came to a dramatic conclusion this past weekend at the 2025 Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta on the mighty Barwon River in Geelong. It seems like only yesterday that athletes—and their dedicated parents—were setting alarms at ungodly hours to drag themselves out of bed for pre-...

The Big Dance is Here! It’s that time of year again—the 2025 Victorian Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta is upon us! The Barwon River is set to host thousands of rowers, coaches and parents, all coming together for a massive weekend of racing and excitement. Join myslef, Alan Crute from Rowing Regatta Form Guides and Chat , and Jo Hayman-McNally as we break down everything you need to know about HOS...

The final hit-out before "The Big Dance" was on the weekend and in just under two weeks, the 2025 Victorian Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta will take center stage, and the excitement is building. This week, Alan from Rowing Regatta Form Guides and Chat , Jo Hayman-McNally, and I break down all the action from Saturday’s racing at Nagambie for the 2025 RV State Championships. With State C...

It was a massive weekend on Victorian waterways, with two of the biggest events on the rowing calendar: the 2025 RV Junior & Inter-Schoolgirls State Championships and the iconic 2025 Australian Henley Regatta. Join Alan Crute from Rowing Regatta Form Guides and Chat , myself, and Jo Hayman-McNally as we break down all the action from the banks of the Barwon River in Geelong and the Yarra River...

In this episode of Regatta Review, Alan from Rowing Regatta Form Guides and Chat, Jo Hayman-Mcnally, and myself take a deep dive into the 2025 Nagambie Regatta, where challenging conditions put all to the test (the usual wind came in...), leading to a mix of results. We also look ahead to the 2025 Rowing Victoria Junior and Inters State Championships, discussing key contenders and what to expect f...

The 2025 Victorian Schoolgirls Rowing season is in full swing! Last weekend, the Barwon River in Geelong hosted the 2025 RV Junior & Inter Schoolgirls - St Catherine's Regatta. I’m joined by Alan Crute from Rowing Regatta Form Guides and Chat, along with Jo Hayman-McNally, to bring you all the insights from the banks of the Barwon. Plus, we break down the key takeaways from the NSW State C...

Welcome to the first podcast review of the 2025 Victorian Schoolgirls rowing season! We’re kicking off the 2025 season with two massive regattas—the RV Junior & Inter Schoolgirls Morongo Regatta on the Barwon River and the JG King Homes Wendouree Ballarat Regatta on Lake Wendouree. This is our first real look at what the schools are bringing to the water this season. Joining us to break down a...

Now the 2025 Victoria Schoolgirls Regatta season is in full swing, join myself, Alan Crute (Rowing Regatta Form Guides and Chat) and our exciting "new recruit" Jo Hayman-McNally, rowing parent and previous HOSG winner, as we discuss the schoolgirls rowing season ahead and what to expect at the Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta in March. Alan gives us his usual in depth insights into what w...

In todays “casual convo” I was lucky enough to be joined by Chris Brown, President of Hawthorn Rowing Club; a huge thanks to Chris as he not only has a newborn at home but he is also managing the enormous role as President at Hawthorn Rowing Club (time is limited….), for joining me, as we dive deep into the challenges of running a modern day rowing club.

In this episode, I have the privilege of being joined by Jo Cripps, the winner of the 2024 Head of the Yarra Coxswains Award! Jo didn’t just outperform us local coxswains—she absolutely owned the river that day. I’m thrilled to gain some insight from her on her rowing journey and what it took to conquer the Head of the Yarra this year!

Join us and an incredible panel of experts as we dive into a preview of the 2024 Head of the Yarra! There’s no better way to get the inside scoop than hearing from those who know this event inside and out. I’ve gathered a few of the best in the biz to chat all things HotY! Proudly brought to you by Rowmann Repairs, CrewNerd, and Gym 24/7.Don’t miss it! #HeadoftheYarra   #Rowing   #RowmannRepairs  ...

Today I take a refreshing break from our usual masters rowing conversations to chat with Sam Lincoln, a Richmond Rowing Club coxswain and recent recipient of Rowing Victoria's Coxswain of the Year award. Sam brings a unique perspective to our discussion, straddling both worlds as he is not only a cox but taking on the oar and doing pretty well as a rower. What makes this conversation particularly...

Join me in the coxswains seat for an intense 480m sprint at the 2024 Bendigo Grade and Masters Sprint Regatta! Listen in as the Hawthorn Rowing Clubs Female Masters coxed quad (FMX4+) takes on this short, sharp course. The action starts at 3:40 on the video as we move into position, but don’t skip the build-up. All the intensity of sprint racing from the best seat in the house!

Welcome back to another ripper "Casual Convo"! Today, we're joined by Mario Laing from the newly formed Lake Eildon Rowing Club. We dive into some Olympic talk - it might ruffle a few feathers, but hey, that's how I tend to roll, right? The real highlight, though, is our discussion about the upcoming regatta hosted by Lake Eildon Rowing Club . Mario's got some big plans, and...