SURFERS ROWING COACHES
- Surfers Rowing
- Apr 15
- 7 min read
Updated: May 14
At Surfers Paradise Rowing Club, we are proud to offer our members access to one of the most experienced and dedicated coaching teams in Australia. With expertise spanning all levels of the sport from beginners to national representatives, our coaches bring decades of success as athletes, mentors, and leaders. Their passion for rowing and commitment to athlete development ensures every rower is supported throughout their journey, both on and off the water.
Whether you're taking your first strokes or chasing a dream of representing Australia at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, our coaching team is here to guide and inspire you every step of the way.
Our coaching team includes:
Peer Richards:
Archer Southwood: Assistant Head Coach
Bob Cooper: School Pathways
Konrad Hill: School Pathways
Ben Horsnell: School Pathways
Anthony Cook: US Pathways
Marcus Free: High-Performance Pathway Coach
Simon Davis: Regional Development Coach
Erik Rowan: Trinity Rowing: Head Coach
Paul Haines: Exercise Scientist & High-Performance Manage
SPRC Head Coach: We are currently in the process of recruiting for this important leadership position. Stay tuned for updates as we continue to strengthen our coaching team.
Peer Richards:
Peer’s rowing journey started as a Talent Identification Program Athlete with the South Australian Sports Institute in 1995.
His competitive experiences ranged from racing for Adelaide University and being selected in several Varsity and State Representative crews, as well as being in the Senior A Surf Boat at Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club.
Relocating to Queensland saw the transition to coaching where Peer coached at St Joseph’s Nudgee College, several Queensland Pathway eights and the All Hallows’ School First Eight.
A return to South Australia saw Peer go back to the South Australian Sports Institute as an assistant coach, as well as coaching the Unley High First Eight with results that included winning the Schoolboy Single Scull at the National Championships.
Returning to Queensland he has been the Head Coach at Somerset College.
Alongside Peer’s coaching he has also worked full time in the following roles.
Boat Shed Manager - St Joseph’s College/All Hallows’ School
Director of Rowing - All Hallows’ School
Development Manager - Rowing South Australia
Head Coach - Rowing - Somerset College
Archer Southwood: Assistant Head Coach
Archer is a former TSS First VIII rower, Queensland state representative, and a long-standing athlete and coach at Surfers Paradise Rowing Club. With a strong background in both school and club rowing, he has coached at The Southport School (TSS) and St Hilda’s, guiding crews to success at state and national levels, including national medallists.
Archer brings a wealth of experience, infectious energy, and a deep passion for the sport. He is known for creating an inclusive, supportive, and high-performance training environment. Committed to the development of athletes both on and off the water, Archer’s coaching philosophy blends technical precision with mentorship, empowering the next generation of rowers to excel.
Having learned to row at The Southport School and gone on to represent the 1st VIII, Archer brings personal experience and insight to his coaching. He draws on this background to effectively guide school rowers, helping them pursue and achieve their individual goals with confidence and clarity.
Anthony Cook: US Pathways
“Cookie” brings an exceptional depth of experience to Surfers Paradise Rowing Club. A product of The Southport School, where he rowed in the 1st VIII and became the first schoolboy and youngest ever qualifier in the prestigious Diamond Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta.
He is an Australian representative, having competed at the U23 World Championships in Belgium and internationally at FISA World Cups, including Lucerne and the Henley Royal Regatta. He raced multiple times in the Australian University VIII and has also competed at Canadian Royal Henley, as well as national championships in the US, UK, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada.
As a coach, he has come full circle, learning to row at The Southport School (TSS), representing TSS, coaching at TSS, and later watching his son Ben row for the same school. His daughters, Jess and Olivia, have also embraced the sport, rowing for St Hilda’s and Rockhampton Grammar respectively, with Olivia now rowing for Rutgers University in the US. This personal journey gives him a unique and empathetic insight into the rowing pathway and the understanding that every athlete's journey is different. Currently serving as President of Surfers Paradise Rowing Club, he is deeply passionate about supporting women in sport and championing US pathways that allow talented athletes to leverage rowing for further education. His coaching credentials include being named Rowing Coach of the Year at both St Hilda’s and TSS with undefeated crews, and coaching National medallists across multiple boat classes over the past four seasons.
Bob Cooper: School Pathways
Bob is a highly decorated rower and coach, having represented Australia in the Lightweight Eight at the World Championships, where he earned a Bronze Medal. With a coaching career spanning decade, he has led crews to multiple state and national titles and guided athletes to success at premier events such as the King’s Cup.
A cornerstone of both The Southport School (TSS) and St Hilda’s rowing programs, Bob has coached every boat class and athlete level, most recently serving as St Hilda’s 1st VIII coach.
His extensive personal and professional experience provides him with a deep understanding of the dedication, discipline, and resilience required for success in the sport.
Bob’s passion for rowing is a testament to the transformative power of the sport. His dedication to sharing that love and knowledge at Surfers Paradise Rowing Club is deeply valued. Renowned for his uncanny knack for identifying talent, Bob goes beyond technical coaching, he instils belief in his athletes, showing them that with hard work, dedication, and commitment, anything is possible.
In addition to coaching competitive crews, Bob also plays a vital role in supporting Para Rowing, Masters, Club, and Learn to Row programs, making him an invaluable coaching resource at SPRC. His versatility and willingness to support athletes at every level highlight his deep commitment to the rowing community.
Konrad Hill: School Pathways
With a strong connection to the sport as both an athlete and coach, Konrad brings dedication and experience to every crew. A Southport School (TSS) rowing alumnus, he first took up the oars as a schoolboy and continued his rowing career post-graduation with Surfers Paradise Rowing Club.
In recent years he has coached at TSS (3 years) Surfers Paradise (1 year) and Trinity (new this season) working with junior athletes to develop their skills and performance on and off the water.His coaching highlights include guiding crews to strong showings at two State Championships, achieving 2× silver medals in the double scull, a gold in the single scull, and a bronze in the single.
Konrad combines firsthand competitive experience with a passion for athlete development, striving to foster both technical excellence and a love for the sport in every rower he mentors.
Ben Horsnell: School Pathways
Ben began his rowing journey at Cathedral College in Townsville before joining the SPRC High Performance Program. A highly accomplished athlete, he claimed the U19 National Championship title in the single scull and has won multiple state championships. Most recently, Ben earned medals at the 2025 National Championships in Tasmania in both the double scull and quad scull events.
Ben has previously coached at St Hilda’s and now joins the SPRC coaching team as a passionate and enthusiastic coach who understands what it takes to succeed at all levels. His hands-on approach and ability to balance his own training with coaching responsibilities make him a fantastic role model, especially for regional rowers aspiring to chase their dreams towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
Erik Rowan: Trinity Rowing: Head Coach
Originally from Tasmania, Mr Rowan rowed competitively for 10 years. After representing Ireland at the 2015 Under 23 World Championships in Bulgaria, he moved to California to complete a Master’s in Sport Management.
While in the U.S., he coached the Santa Clara University Men’s Team to their first-ever appearance at the IRA National Championships. He later became Head Coach at Los Gatos Rowing Club, leading the club to its first Regional and National Championship gold medals in eight years. Since joining Trinity in 2021,
Mr Rowan has guided the Senior Squad to four A-Final appearances at the National Championships in 2022, 2024, and 2025, including Trinity’s first-ever national medal in a crew boat in 2024.For more information about the Trinity School Rowing Program, please contact Erik or School Admissions.
Simon Davis: Regional Development Coach
Simon is a dedicated coach with a wealth of experience coaching junior and masters rowers. His technical expertise in boat rigging and athlete development ensures tailored support for each member. Simon’s success includes guiding athletes to state championships and Head of the River victories.
Simon is the Head Coach at Cathedral College in Townsville and plays a vital role in supporting SPRC through camps, boat transport, and regional development strategy.
With a wealth of experience in school rowing, Simon excels at guiding young athletes into pathway programs aimed at state, national, or US collegiate opportunities. His work is instrumental in helping regional school-aged rowers stay engaged in the sport and progress through SPRC squads toward high-performance goals. Simon’s involvement also helps families better understand the opportunities rowing can offer, particularly in leveraging sporting talent to access further education through US rowing scholarships.
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Marcus Free – High-Performance Pathway Coach
Marcus is a former Australian representative at multiple World Championships as both an athlete and a coach. With firsthand knowledge of what it takes to succeed at the highest levels of rowing, Marcus excels at developing elite athletes through technical expertise, strategic planning, and personalized coaching.
Paul Haines – Exercise Scientist & High-Performance Manager
Paul brings over 23 years of expertise in training professional athletes across sports, including AFL, motorsports, and rowing. As an Accredited Exercise Scientist and Level 2 Strength & Conditioning Coach, Paul develops innovative training programs that combine physical and cognitive performance techniques to help athletes excel.
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