Dennis Hatcher
Adelaide University Boat Club (SA) then Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC) then Melbourne University Boat Club (VIC)
1971 - South Australian Head of the River (Pulteney Grammar School) - Stroke - First
1973 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship (SA) seven seat – Third
1974 – Australian University Championships- Men’s eight – First
1976 – Australian University Championships- Men’s pair – First
1976 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship (SA) stroke – Third
1977 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship (SA) stroke – Second
1978 – World Championships – Men’s Lightweight Eight bow – Bronze
1979 – Interstate Men’s Lightweight Four Championship two seat – First
1979 – World Championships – Men’s Lightweight Eight three seat – Sixth
1989 – World Championships – selector
1990 – World Championships – selector
1991 – World Championships – selector
1992 – World Championships – selector
1992 – Olympic Games – selector
1993 – World Championships – selector
1994 – World Championships – selector
Above – 1978 Bronze medal winning eight – Dennis far left
Dennis was an excellent selector for the sport who brought far more analysis and science to the process which produced better Australian results. He also co-authored a plan used by rowing and other sports titled “The Model of Excellence” which proposed the way to achieve success at the 2000 Olympic Games. He was an influential and important high performance administrator.
Dennis has held senior positions in sports science and sports administration both in Australia and overseas.
Dennis died far too young on 9th June 2024. The following obituary appeared on the Rowing Australia website.
Rowing Australia has paid tribute to Dennis Hatcher, a champion rower, administrator and sporting visionary who passed away in June after a battle with cancer.
Mr Hatcher was a driving force behind the Australian Institute of Sport, serving as Assistant Director from 2002-2009, where he earned a reputation as an influential high-performance administrator dedicated to athletes, coaches and sports science.
He was a national selector for Rowing Australia and introduced analysis and science to the process in a calculated effort to produce better results.
He also co-authored a plan used by rowing and other sports titled The Model of Excellence, which proposed the way to achieve success at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.
Colin Smith, former President of Rowing Australia, said Mr Hatcher’s loss would be felt keenly throughout the sport.
"I had the pleasure of rowing with Dennis in the Australian Lightweight VIII for a Bronze Medal at the World Rowing Championships,” Mr Smith said.
“We then rowed together in 1979, winning the Penrith Cup in a boil-over, and then also winning the Lightweight Eight at the Nationals. Dennis was superb to row with excellent skills. We will all really miss him."
Rowing Australia extends it sincerest condolences to Mr Hatcher’s family and friends in this difficult time.
Andrew Guerin
Sept 2013 (updated June 2024 with contributions from Colin Smith and Rowing Australia)