Sam Golding
Corio Bay Rowing Club (VIC) then Melbourne University Boat Club (VIC) then Barwon Rowing Club (VIC) then back to Melbourne University Boart Club (VIC) and Deakin University then Monash University and finally Melbourne University for Intervarsity competition.
Sam commenced rowing at school in Geelong and was fortunate in having Jeff Sykes as his first eight coach. This resulted in a love of rowing and being on the water, that lead on to club rowing in Geelong and winning selection in underage teams. Success at senior A level came in the LM2x with Rob Gardner at the 1985, 1986 and 1990 Australian Championships, and as the Australian crews for the Barrington and Vienna World Championships.
When asked about key rowing coaches who have been influences on him, Sam mentions "the enthusiasm of Dick Garrard and the technical nous of Paul Reedy".
His inter varsity rowing in the single for Deakin, Monash and Melbourne universities was rewarded with third place, a win and a second pace as well as university blues. University studies led to a career in the law and interestingly, a love of art - he exhibits regularly.
One of his most important contributions back to the sport, has been serving regularly on the Rowing Australia appeals tribunal since 1998 to hear appeals from non-selection.
On the benefits of rowing, Sam said: "Rowing creates enduring friendships and I remember with sadness the loss of Tim Hawkins, who I raced with in 1994 in Indianapolis. He died senselessly in the Bali bombings and their 20th anniversary has just tolled."
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Off the start at 1991 World Championships in Vienna - Sam in the bow seat with the Tim Wise stroking
Summary of rowing record:
1980 – APS Head of the River Geelong College Third Eights, six seat – Sith
1981 – APS Head of the River, Geelong College First Eights, bow – Second
1981 – Victorian Schoolboy Eight Championship, bow - First
1982 – Victorian Under 19 Scull Championship - First
1982 – Victorian Lightweight Scull Championship - Fourth
1982 – Victorian Country Scull Championship - Third
1982 – Australian Championship Under 19 Scull Championship – Second
1982 – Australian Championship Under 19 Double Scull Championship, bow – First
1982 – Australian University Championships, Men’s Scull – Third
1983 – Victorian Championship Lightweight Scull – Fifth
1983 – Australian Championship Lightweight Scull – unplaced
1983 – Australian Championship Lightweight Double Scull – unplaced
1983 – Trans Tasman Under 23 Series Australian Lightweight Sculling
1984 – Victorian Championship Scull - Sixth
1984 – Victorian Championship Lightweight Scull - First
1984 – Australian Lightweight Scull Championship – Third
1984 – Australian Lightweight Double Scull Championship – Third
1985 – Australian Championship Lightweight Scull – semi-finalist
1985 – Australian University Championships Scull - Second
1986 – Victorian Under 23 Scull Championship - First
1986 – Australian Championship Quad Scull - Sixth
1986 – Australian Championship Lightweight Scull - Third
1986 – Australian Championship Lightweight Double Scull, bow - First
1986 – Australian University Championship Scull - First
1986 – Trans Tasman Under 23 Series Australian Men’s Lightweight sculling
1987 – Australian Championship Lightweight Scull - Fourth
1987 – Australian Championship Lightweight Double Scull, bow - First
1988 – Australian Championship Lightweight Pair, bow – unplaced
1988 – Australian Championship Lightweight Four, three seat – Fifth
1988 – Australian Championship Lightweight Eight, seven seat – Fourth
1989 – Australian Championship Lightweight Scull – Equal third
1989 – Australian Championship Lightweight Eight – Race not conducted due to a cyclone
1989 – Interstate Men’s Lightweight Four Championship emergency – Race not conducted due to a cyclone.
1990 – Victorian Championship Lightweight Double Scull, bow – First
1990 – Australian Championship Lightweight Scull – unplaced
1990 – Australian Championship Lightweight Double Scull, bow – Second
1990 – Australian Championship Lightweight Quad Scull, three seat – Fourth
1990 – World Championships – Men’s Lightweight Double Scull bow – Seventh
1991 – Australian Championship Lightweight Scull – Sixth
1991 – Australian Championship Double Scull, bow – Fifth
1991 – World Championships – Men’s Lightweight Double Scull – Seventh
1992 – Australian University Championships Scull (Monash) - Second
1992 – Victorian Championship Lightweight Scull – First
1992 – Australian Championship Lightweight Scull – Third
1992 – Australian Championship Lightweight Quad Scull, two seat – First
1993 – Victorian Championship Lightweight Scull – First
1993 – Australian Championship Double Scull, bow – Sixth
1993 – Australian Championship Lightweight Scull – Fourth
1994 – Victorian Championship Quad Scull, bow - First
1994 – Australian Championship Lightweight Scull – Fifth
1994 – Australian Championship Lightweight Double Scull, bow – Third
1994 – Australian Championship Lightweight Quad Scull, two seat – Second
1994 – World Championships – Men’s Lightweight Double Scull bow – Thirteenth
1994 – Commonwealth Regatta in Canada, Lightweight Double Scull, bow – Bronze
1995 – Australian Championship Lightweight Four, three seat - First
1995 – Australian Championship Lightweight Eight, seven seat – First
1996 – Victorian Championship Lightweight Scull – First
1996 – Australian Championship Lightweight Scull – Eighth
1997 – Australian Championship Lightweight Double Scull, bow – Third
1997 – Australian Championship Lightweight Quad Scull, two seat – Second
1999 – Australian Championship Lightweight Scull - Sixth
1999 – Australian Championship Lightweight Double Scull, stroke - Fourth
1999 – Australian Championship Lightweight Quad Scull, two seat – First
2000 – Australian Championship Lightweight Scull - Thirteenth
2000 – Australian Championship Lightweight Quad Scull, bow - Second
2000 – Australian University Championship men’s Scull - Second
2002-03 – Councillor for Victoria on Rowing Australia
Andrew Guerin
January 2023