The single scull event at the Australian rowing championships is as much about ticker as technique due to its gruelling individual nature.

"Not everyone can do it," Antill said. "The pressure is 100 per cent on you. There's no combination. You're alone. It's all you."

So clinching the Dr Stephen Hinchy Memorial Trophy in the men's single scull at the national titles meant plenty to the ANU-ACTHP team member, who featured in the Tokyo Olympic Games bronze medal-winning quad scull.

Antill won in 7:08.13s, beating Cormac Kennedy-Leverett (Griffith University-Surfers Paradise) by 1.13s, while reigning champion Jack Hargreaves OAM (Sydney University-NSWIS) rounded out the top three.

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The triumph marked Antill's first in the event, snapping a frustrating run of podium finishes in the past year.

"I think I've been second or third in this race, three or four times. I'm pretty done with those minor medals," Antill said.

"I knew Cormac wanted to lead the race out; so, I thought I'd take it to him in the first half and see if I could put him under a bit of pressure. It worked, and I [thought] I should just build my way through the race."

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