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Home > Rowing Profiles > Robertson, Jack

Jack Robertson

Oxford University/University of California, Berkeley/Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)

Jack started his rowing at Melbourne Grammar School winning his first big race in the year 10A race at the APS Head of the River in 2014 and then backing up in the National Championships Under 17 eight to win his first National Championship. His crew was unable to replicate this performance at the APS Head of the River in 2015 with a second placing, but they won in 2016, one of the rare times in recent years that a crew has defeated the dominant Scotch College. To make matters more pleasing for Jack, he was also Captain of Boats in 2016.

Celebrating a win 2016 at the Head of the River

He joined Mercantile and raced in their youth program successfully with Victorian and New South Wales State Championship wins and a podium finish in the four and the Interstate Eight. A good result for a first year out of school. 

In 2017 on the podium for the Victorian State Championship - Jack from second from left 

Jack then went to the University of California, Berkeley to study and row. He raced in the second varsity eight in both 2018 and 2019 finishing off the 2019 year at the Head of the Charles in the first varsity eight. The Covid-19 Pandemic cancelled the remainder of the 2020 season.

However he managed to fit in racing in the US based Australian under 23 eight which was a finalist despite several set backs in its preparation. In the repechage the Australians rowed through Canada on the line to make the A final of the 2019 World Rowing U23 Championships in Sarasota, Florida.

Australian eight with Jack in the five seat in 2019

Jack in the first varsity eight at the Head of the Charles in 2019

Jack returned to Australia during Covid in November 2020 to join the National Training Centre for the first time. His 2021 domestic season culminated with a King’s Cup win for Victoria in a photo finish over New South Wales at Lake Barrington.

The Victorians celebrate their victory in the King's Cup - Jack front row second from the right

He was named as a reserve to the 2021 national squad before returning to the US to finish his Bachelor of Arts degree. He finished his US studies with the following awards:

His studies and rowing overseas were not finished. In 2022, Jack undertook a Masters in Sociology at Oxford University and also competed successfully in The Boat Race. 

Jack holding the trophy after the Boat Race win

He has since returned to Australia and has been selected into the Australian men's eight for the 2023 World Cups. His aim is Paris 2024.

In 2020 in response to a question on memorable races, it was interesting to hear that his Head of the River win in 2016 rated highly, despite having had such varied experiences since then. It was not only winning the race, but had other elements such as defeating the dominant Scotch College first crew and his school sweeping all before it in other divisions - the power of school rowing remains significant.

Jack loves competing, relishing the opportunity to get to the start line. He opines that there are far too few races in a season to test out the significant training involved. The racing opportunities are golden and of course he races to win.

He also appreciates the team environment and camaraderie that the rowing provides. Crewed boats are his favourite and the bigger the better - "getting an eight right has to be the best".

Jack had a special word for Mercs saying that it taught him that there is much more to the sport than school rowing. Both Mercs and his school have opened doors for him enabling him to enjoy excellent educational and sporting opportunities. He likes what is happening at the Club with the new high performance program and he is excited to see so many young rowers joining the program.

Jack has so much more to offer the sport and hopefully we will see him in the Paris 2024 Olympic team?

This story is only part written.

Known rowing record

2013 – Victorian Junior State Championships, Year 9A Coxed Quad, bow – 7th

2013 – APS Head of the River, Year 9A Coxed Quad – 5th

2013 – Melbourne Head, Year 10A Eight (Schoolboy Open Div. 3), five seat – First

2014 - Victorian Championships, Under 19 Eight – Second

2014 – Australian Henley, Year 10A Eight – First

2014 – Victorian State Championships, Year 10A Eight – First

2014 – Scotch Mercantile Regatta, Year 10A Eight – First

2014 - APS Head of the River, Year 10 A, five seat - First

2014 – National Championships, U17 Men’s eight, five seat – First 

2015 – Scotch Mercantile Regatta, Schoolboy Eight, three seat – First

2015 - APS Head of the River, first crew, three seat - Second

2015 - National Championships, Schoolboy eight, three seat – Third

2015 – Head of the Yarra, Schoolboy Eight, three seat – First

2015 – Melbourne Head, Schoolboy Eight – First

2016 – Barwon Regatta, Schoolboy Eight – First

2016 – Ballarat Regatta, Schoolboy Eight – First

2016 – Scotch Mercantile Regatta, Schoolboy Eight - First 

2016 - APS Head of the River, first crew, three seat - First

2016 - Henley Royal Regatta - Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup - Semi-finalist

2017 - National Championships, under 21 pair, sixth

2017 - National Championships, under 21 four, three seat - Second

2017 – Barwon Regatta, U21 Eight, bow – First

2017 – Wendouree Regatta, U21 Eight – First

2017 – Australian Henley, U21 Eight – First

2017 – Victorian State Championships, U21 Eight – First

2017 – NSW State Championships, U21 Eight – First

2017 – Interstate Men’s Youth Eight Championship bow – Second 

2017 – Princeton Chase, Freshman Eight, three seat – First

2018 – San Diego Crew Classic, Third Varsity Eight, seven seat – First

2018 - University of California, Berkeley Second Varsity Eight - Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships - Silver

2018 - University of California, Berkeley Second Varsity Eight - Pacific Twelve Championships – Silver

2018 – Pac-12 Conference Championships, Junior Varsity Eight – Silver

2018 – Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships, Junior Varsity Eight – Silver

2019 – University of California, Berkeley Second Varsity Eight – Pacific Twelve Championships – Silver

2019 – Pac-12 Conference Championships, Junior Varsity Eight – Silver

2019 – U23 World Championships U23 Men’s Eight five seat – Sixth 

2019 - University of California, Berkeley First Varsity Eight - Head of the Charles - Second

COVID-19  has disrupted his racing in 2020.

2021 - Reserve, Australian Senior Rowing Team

2021 - National Championships, Men's Coxed Four - Fourth

2021 - Interstate Championships, Men's Eight – First

2021 – The Big Row: Cal vs Stanford Dual, First Varsity Eight, five seat – First

2021 – Pac-12 Conference Championships, First Varsity Eight – Silver

2021 – Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships, First Varsity Eight – Silver

2021 – Wallingford Head, Open Eight, bow seat – First

2021 – Oxford Trial Eights, “Rohan”, four seat – First 

2022 – Oxford vs Leander Fixture, Blue Boat – First 

2022 - The Boat Race, Oxford University Blue Boat - First

2023 - Australian Rowing Team, Men's Eight

2023 – World Rowing Cup II (Varese, Italy), Men’s Eight, four seat – Silver

2023 – World Rowing Cup III (Lucerne, Switzerland), Men’s Eight, five seat – Gold

Andrew Guerin
October 2020 and updated July 2023

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