Nudgee eight eye national title after oarsome river triumph Nudgee College First VIII with the O'Connor Cup 2013. An awesome effort at the Head of the River has Nudgee College's First VIII full of confidence ahead of the Sydney International Rowing Regatta this week. The boys recorded a remarkable four length (10.5 seconds) win over Anglican Church Grammar School to claim the O'Connor Cup, one of two victories in the eights for the school. The First VIII crew, which included five from last year's top squad, atoned for their second placing to ACGS last year, reclaiming the title the school won in 2011. The time of 5 min 57 sec was a course record over the 2000m at Lake Kawana. To say coach John Bowes was thrilled was an understatement. ``I've never seen a win as big as that. If you win by a length at that standard it's good," he said. ``It was terrific to finish off like that." Nudgee College director of rowing Christian Oneto said it was one of the most dominant displays of rowing he had seen. However, the College was unable to secure the Old Boy Cup for overall champion of the seven competing schools, missing out to The Southport School. Bowes said a podium finish for the First VIII would be a great result for the school at the national titles. ``It's a totally different ball game, you're racing against schoolboys from other states (who are) a year older," he said. Several of the school's rowers will also compete in pairs and individual events, including Alex King and Harley Moore in the under-19 pair, Jack Armitage and Connor Austin in under-19 singles and Adam Bakker in the under-17 singles.