2026 Rowing Victoria 150th Anniversary State Championships The Aikman Club joined with rowers from 69 other Clubs and Schools to participate in the State Championships at Lake Wendouree, Ballarat. The Champs were held over 3 days 27th Feb – 1st March. The venue was the 1956 Olympic course. In yet more firsts for the Club two members rowed in the Male C Grade Single Sculls event. The conditions over the weekend varied significantly, form Thunderstorms on Friday afternoon, good conditions on Saturday and windy on Sunday – when the C grade singles were held. Battling high winds on Sunday afternoon Chris Gassin (OH ’08) finished a strong 2nd in his heat in 4.27.34s to advance to the final later in the day. In an earlier heat of the same event Reuben Goff managed a respectable 5th in 5.14.01. This was Reuben’s first ever race. In the final Chris managed a strong 4th place in 4.28.91 missing the podium by a narrow margin. Club stalwart Paul Diggerson was also involved as the President of the Jury running the regatta. The club now looks forward to the next adventure at Footscray on the Maribyrnong on the 21st March, and the State Masters Championships at Nagambie on the 2nd & 3rd May. New members are always welcome – whether you just want a relaxing social row or have never rowed before but would like to give it a go! There is no requirement that you join our racing squad. Check our website or

Aikman Club strikes Gold

Following on from the recent Bendigo Regatta, a small squad ventured across town to Essendon on 14 December for the Henley on Maribyrnong Regatta.

A Henley style event is match racing (2 crews) usually over 3 rounds with the winner progressing.

Chris Gassin (OH ’08) lead the team performances taking out Division 1 of the Male Masters Single Scull event – with a winning margin in the final of 0.42s. for the Clubs first Gold Medal. Earlier in the day Chris finished a creditable 9th in the Male A Grade single scull. This was the first time Chris has returned to racing since representing HY in the 2008 Head of River as 2 seat in the 1st VIII which finished 1st in the B Final, having narrowly missed the A Final by 0.62s.

Other strong performances came from Tom Cariss (OH ‘22 ) in the Male C grade Single scull, along with Ben Reed (OH’24).

The Female C grade Coxed Quad who won their Time Trial and the Mixed Masters coxed Quad who were competitive in their Heat.

The Club is now looking towards the next regatta.
New members are always welcome – whether you just want a relaxing social row or have never rowed before but would like to give it a go!

There is no requirement that you join our racing squad.

Check our website or contact secretary@aikman.club

Aikman Club returns to racing Following 18 months of growth of the Club, we returned to racing with a trip to Lake Weeroona for the annual Bendigo Sprint regatta on 18th October 2025. The Development squad of 12 rowers competed in 6 events across the day, with all crews gaining valuable experience. Five of the six crews competed in Finals. The Male C grade coxed Four finished 2nd in the Final, Female C grade coxed Quad 4th in the Heat, Mixed Masters coxed Quad 3rd in the Final, Mixed coxed Quad 4th in the Final and the Male Masters coxed Four finished 4th in the Final. In the Male C grade single scull Ben Reed (OH 2024) became the Club’s first Winner of any event, in taking out his Heat race. Ben went on to finish 4th in the Final. Ben’s school rowing was mainly as a cox (which included coxing Haileybury crews to wins in the Male B grade 4 and B grade 8 at the Australian Henley in 2022, Open Male Schools Quad at Head of Schoolboys and Head of the River as well as the U21 Quad at State Championships in 2023 and defending the Open Schoolboys Quad at the Head of the River in 2024). We look forward to Ben’s journey transitioning from cox to rower. In a nod to Haileybury rowing history the boat Ben rowed was previously owned by Mr D.J. Thain, a coach of crews in the early days of the College rowing

What a difference 1 hour or so makes from fog to bright sunshine on a great morning for rowing (Sunday 10th Oct)

Introducing the latest addition to the boat fleet a Glyn Locke kevlar/wood construction 1X circa 1989. A UK classic boat for rowers 77kg - 95kg. Josh B hit the water late yesterday for a test row. Glyn is also noted for his building of racing yachts Inc. America's Cup boats.