South African Schools Rowing Championships 2025

March 06, 2025 | Campus, Boys’ College, Girls’ College | Author: Kate Christowitz,Campus Director of Rowing

What an incredible weekend was had by #OneAndAll at the RMB - Rand Merchant Bank SA Rowing Champs 2025. Our St Stithians Rowing Club ended the season on a high, delivering outstanding performances over three days of intense competition.

Congratulations to all of our rowers from both Girls’ and Boys’ College for all of their inspiring performances over the entire weekend and to their committed and passionate coaches, Welcome Sidyiyo for Boys' College and Chris Mittendorf and Kaitlyn Mittendorf for the Girls' College. Congratulations and gratitude also go to Kate Christowitz, Campus Director of Rowing and Ed Goodier, our Boys' College Rowing MIC. The banks of Roodeplaat were awash with Saints supporters kit worn by our amazing parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, fellow students and our ever supportive Heads of School cheering on our remarkable athletes.

We take pleasure in sharing some of the highlight results:

The Boys’ College U14 squad showed remarkable progress, climbing the rankings over the past two months. Their determination was on full display in the Octuple final, where they finished 5th, matching the top crews in speed and showcasing incredible enthusiasm.

The Boys’ College U15s had a phenomenal finish to their season. Hugo Price-Hughes and Ethan Waldeck-Cooks dominated the single sculls, securing 1st and 2nd place after three gruelling rounds. The A Quad crew also claimed an emphatic victory in one of the most competitive events of the championship. In the Octuple final, an early mishap put them at a disadvantage, but their resilience saw them fight back to finish 6th.

The Open squad brought home bronze medals in both the pair and coxless four, but for our Boys’ College rowers, the real highlights came on Sunday afternoon:

•       In the 2nd Eights final, the crew staged an incredible comeback from 5th place at the halfway mark to take 1st place - making history as the first-ever Saints team to win this event since its inception 20 years ago.

•       In the 1st Eights final, the team gave everything they had, battling St Benedict’s while fending off strong challenges from St John’s and Rondebosch. Their grit and determination earned them a well-deserved silver medal in the final race of the championship.

Our Girls’ College rowers achieved spectacular results on Friday and Saturday, the energy was electric for the grand finale! Here are some of the highlight results:

•       The U15 Octuple faced a tough challenge from Somerset College but emerged victorious with a silver medal. The athletes were Danika Du Plessis, Isabella Landman, Charlotte Botha, Annabelle Logan, Jessica Dieppenaar, Oratile More, Sienna Van Niekerk, Zoe Maimba, and Yivani Mtini.

•       The Open Four of Lufuno Tshikwatamba, Erin Olivier, Mikayla Meyer, Zazi Manzana, and Kgaugelo Mphrewane, challenged the St Mary’s and St Andrews crews and came home with a commendable Silver.

•       Cameron Waldeck-Cooks secured a spot on the U16 SASRU development tour to the UK in May by placing 3rd in the U16 Scull event.

•       Lucy Taylor in the 1st Scull, and Ntsako Shipalana and Anouk van der Breggen in the 1st Pair, placed second, earning automatic inclusion in the Provincial selection process.

Sunday was filled with excitement and nerves as the premier events were set to race. Our youngest rowers in the U14 Octuple had a thrilling race against St Andrews and St Mary’s, ultimately placing second and bringing home their first SA Champs silver medal!

Congratulations to Grace Lewis, Elykia Bogne, Khanyisa Koranteng, Phuti Runeyi, Achumile Tanga, Relebohile Jiyana, Kiara Habib, Mihlali Nkosi, and Zoe Joel. Though our U15 Quad, U16 Double, and Four did not medal, making the A final was a solid performance.

The Open 1st - Ntsako Shipalana, Lucy Taylor, Kenya Simpson, Anouk van der Breggen, and Bontle Nogomba - and 2nd – Erin Olivier, Manuella Bogne, Zazi Manzana, Mikayla Meyer and Kgaugelo Mpherwane - Quads competed in the 1st Quad event as the final race of the day, placing 2nd and 5th. The 1st Quad had their sights set on gold, but the St Andrews crew would not give an inch. Our Quad achieved a commendable silver medal. After 5 years of not being on the podium at SA Champs, this is an absolutely wonderful achievement.

The above contributed to a 3rd place overall for St Stithians Girls' Rowing. Congratulations to all the competitors, coaches, and parents who have put their everything into this season!