Rowing at St Stithians Girls' Colllege

November 01, 2023 | Girls’ College | Author: Kate Christowitz, St Stithians Girls' College Head of Rowing

What is it about rowing that connects so deeply with an individual’s soul that no matter how many challenges one faces, they will always come back for more.

Rowing is a crucible for greatness because it demands the challenge of both physical and mental resilience. Rowers are pushed to their limits, rowing together against the unforgiving elements of self-doubt, personal expectation, and nature. The commitment to long hours of training and the pursuit of technical perfection instils a level of discipline that few other sports can match. The spirit of rowing - rooted in tradition, history, and camaraderie - provides a unique environment where greatness is not only achieved in competition but also in the personal growth and the bonds formed along the way. Saints rowers are not just sculpted into competitive sports women, but also into individuals capable of achieving greatness in life beyond the boat.

On Saturday 21 October 2023, the St Stithians College Girls' and Boys' Rowing Clubs hosted the final Senior Regatta of 2023. This regatta was important to all Gauteng rowing schools as a last opportunity to test their performance before next weekend’s Gauteng Schools Rowing Championships. The hosting of a regatta falls to the Parents Committee as a fundraising opportunity for both the Saints Boys' and Girls' rowing clubs.

Like their children, the parents display physical and mental resilience whilst being pushed to their limits obtaining sponsorships, buying and selling tuckshop stock, creating raffle hampers, manning the gate, and setting up marketing all whilst supporting the teams racing down the course. When asked about what it means to host a regatta, our Rowing Head of Communications, Zita Lobban said “Hosting a regatta is the privilege of bringing together communities, fostering camaraderie, creating memories that will last a lifetime, and being able to contribute to the growth of the sport we love”. This is the essence of our club and community and falls well into the Saints ideals of servant leadership, and One and All.

A big thank you to our Parent Committee and parents for their invaluable support in hosting the regatta and their support of the club.