The Australian national rowing championships are held in March each year and are the culmination of a long and exhausting season for all the athletes. This year Tasmania hosted the regatta on the pristine waters of Lake Barrington, near Launceston. The School was represented by the First VIII, a Coxed IV and Year 10 VIII (U17). The IV won the B Final, whilst the First VIII and U17 VIII both won their respective A finals on the last day of competition and are the 2025 Schoolboy National Champions. 

Also competing this year at Lake Barrington was the former Riverview oarsman and Sydney Rowing Club/Rowing NSW competitor Flynn Wilkinson (OR2021). Competing in the Men's PR3 division, Flynn won both the men's PR3 U23 Single Scull title as well as the Interstate Men's PR3 Single Scull title. 

OIU news caught up with the dual gold medallist after returning from Tasmania and we began by asking Flynn how he got into Rowing in the first place. 

"In mid year 10 I went down to the rowing sheds and Mr Noonan and Dave Dillon were my coaches. I loved the way it conditioned you as a person, as you develop in a communal team environment, and through that, you develop your way of thinking and the way how your body can react to certain situations. I feel like that it develops you as a person." Flynn added. 

Chatting to Head Coach Dan Noonan after the National titles, I asked him briefly about Flynn's rowing backstory and what superb results he had in Tasmania. "I remember when Flynn first came to the shed. It was a slow process because you had to explain a lot of things to him on the water. He would then go away and think about it. The biggest challenge was trying to get into a crew and get moving with that group. Once he started to get the hang of it, he took off. He thrived on the training. He thrived on the work."

Flynn's Riverview rowing career culminated in the memorable 3rd IV victory at the 2021 Head of the River. Noonan remembers that race well. "The Shore 3rd IV had won every regatta to date that season. They were about ½ length behind Shore at the 1,000m. Our boys smoked the last 500m and won by a good boat length. 

At the rowing dinner that night I made special mention of Flynn and his crew overhauling Shore to win the Father Gartlan Memorial Trophy." 

OIU news finished the interview by warmly congratulating Flynn on his recent success and asked him what it was like to win and be on the podium? "I won for PR3 Under 23 and I also won for New South Wales in the PR3 interstate race. I thought that was very exciting. I hadn't been representing New South Wales in the PR3 so it was very new for me. 

I want to thank the people who pushed me forward, Mr. Dan Noonan and Mr. David Dillon, and other coaches at Sydney Rowing Club and thank them for giving me that opportunity." 

On behalf of the OIU, well done Flynn and all the best for your future.