The first World Championships conducted in Australia were in 1990 at Lake Barrington. They bueatiful surrounds will host the Australian Championships in 2021, COVID permitting. They heralded the start of the Oarsome Foursome, the rise of Stephen Hawkins and Peter Antonie who were to take gold in 1992 at Barcelona, and validation to the World of the strength of lightweight rowing in Australia - medals were won in both lightweight men and women's crews.

The regatta was a great credit to David Schier, now President of the Shepparton Rowing Club, who gained government support to build the course at Lake Barrington and then getting FISA to agree to give teh World Championships to Lake Barrington - it was a bold move.

The Championships are perhaps best known as the last regatta at which East and West Germany competed as different nations.

Some images to bring back the memories.

The Oarsome Foursome's first World Championship win

Silver medal medal winning women's lightweight four stroked by club member Bec Joyce

A youthful President Anthony Johnson in the back row with Captain Peter Murphy and Chipper in the front.