SA Schools Rowing Championships 2022

After a hiatus of one year, the annual South African School Rowing Championships in partnership with Rand Merchant Bank took place at Victoria Lake Club in Germiston Gauteng on the weekend of 4 to 6 March 2022. The event attracted entries from twenty-four of South Africa’s top schools: fourteen boys schools, seven girls schools and 3 co-ed schools. In total, 1150 rowers participated – 296 girls and 854 boys. The event also drew entries from five of South Africa’s Junior Clubs who entered scullers from 15 different schools.

The number of entries was down in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic which had seen regulations curtailing and compromising school pupils’ participation in sport. Covid-19 restrictions also meant that the South African Schools Rowing Union was also unable to invite a number of Zimbabwean schools who traditionally participate in the regatta.

Although the Championships are historically raced over 2000m at Roodeplaat Dam; this year the country’s top schools rowers were provided with an opportunity to show their prowess over 1000m.

The reigning boys’ champions, St Benedict’s College, were faced with tough competition this year from Jeppe Boys, St Alban’s College, St Stithians College, St John’s College and St Andrew’s Grahamstown but they once again triumphed and placed first in all the age groups and emerged as National Rowing Champions for the 28th consecutive year. St Benedict’s College also won gold in both the 1st and 2nd Eights. St Alban’s College – situated in Tshwane – emerged as the best sculling school.

The competition amongst the girls schools was marked by the traditional rivalry between St Mary’s, Waverley and St Andrews School for Girls. St Mary’s clinched the Read Trophy for the Best Girls School and emerged triumphant in the U15, U16 and Open age groups. A strong performance at U14 level saw St Andrews win that age group trophy – a victory which appears to indicate that the competition between the girls will remain strong for years to come. One of the stand out performances for the weekend was a sterling victory from the Holy Rosary Girls First Quad after their club faced near closure during the 2021 school year. It is hoped that this victory will spearhead a revival of the club.

This season was not without its challenges for South African schools. The Covid-19 pandemic has severely compromised school sport in the last two year and the opportunities to compete have been limited. The Championships were cancelled in March 2021 and this was the first time in two years that parents, family and friends were able to gather for SA Champs and truly celebrate the rowers’ successes. Spectator numbers reached record numbers with 4171 spectators passing through the gates over the course of the three day event.

Traditionally, the Championships take place at Roodeplaat Dam in Tshwane but a hyacinth infestation made it impossible to host the event at its traditional home. At the Championship prizegiving, participants and attendees were reassured by the President of South African Rowing, Sean Kerr, that RowSA are working closely with the government to ensure that Roodeplaat dam is restored.

Despite the multiple challenges, rowing schools across the country continued to train to ensure that the future of SA Rowing remains bright. It was encouraging to see top performances across both co-ed and monastic schools:

The 2022 Champions across the categories were as follows:

Best Co-Ed School  

3rd       Germiston High School

2nd        St Dunstan’s College

1st         Somerset College

Best Girls School 

3rd       Holy Rosary School

2nd        St Andrews School for Girls

1st         St Mary’s

Best Boys School 

3rd       St Alban’s College

2nd        Jeppe High School for Boys

1st         St Benedict’s College

Congratulations to the entire rowing community including parents, rowers, coaches and organisers for a successful season. We are delighted to be able to attend regattas again and see and experience our talented and determined rowers compete on the water.

Alison Badenhorst, Chief Marketing Officer at Rand Merchant Bank

This press release was written by Andre Oosthuyzen – President of SASRU

For more information contact CN&CO blake@cnandco.com