One of the longest droughts in Australian sporting history was broken as Queensland’s Interstate Men’s eight won the prestigious King’s Cup for the for the first time in 87 years.
Battling a strong headwind at the Australian Rowing Championships in March, the crew lead from the start.
They held off fast-finishing and defending champions, Victoria, to win by the slimmest of margins, just 0.22 seconds.
The young crew of determined battlers who shook off the weight of history to return the coveted trophy to Queensland are Sam Forbes, Lex Tucker, Darcy Watter, Jackson Free, Drew Weightman, Paddy Holt, Monty Martin, Mitch Salisbury with cox Tom Shaw.
Along with coaches Randall Martin and John Bowes, they etched their names in history alongside the first Queensland team to win the Sheffield Shield and State of Origin.
The King’s Cup, first won by an Australian Imperial Forces crew at the Henley Peace Regatta at conclusion of WWI, was gifted to Australia by King George V to be presented to the winning interstate eight in perpetuity. Queensland last won the Cup over 3 miles on the Hamilton Reach of the Brisbane River in 1939.
None of that venerated crew survive and the closest the Sunshine State had come in the nearly nine decades was in 1999.
That year the crew featured Australian representatives Marcus Free, Randall Martin and David Weighman all of who had sons in this winning eight, Jackson, Monty and Drew. The fathers were all at the course to witness the wild scenes of celebration when decades of frustration evaporated in the final stroke over the line.
Olympian and cox of the ‘99 crew, Dr Michael Toon, initiated the Three Mile Race along the Hamilton Reach of the Brisbane River in 2019 to inspire efforts to win the King’s Cup and Queen’s Cup for Queensland. Dr Toon was one of several spectators that took to the icy waters of Lake Barrington to be the first to congratulate the crew.
“I am just overjoyed for the young crew and their persistent coaches. It was incredible to witness the elation and relief of all the supporters in that moment,” Dr Toon said.
“This is a win for all Queenslanders and a testament to the passion and dedication of so many that have kept the faith over many years and suffered many disappointments.”
In the Interstate Women’s eight the Queensland crew finished a thrilling second place to record their best ever result in that event, upsetting their heavily favoured rivals Western Australia and Victoria in a race won by New South Wales.
