The Spirit of Rowing Thrives at the 2025 SA Schools Rowing Championships

This past weekend the SA Schools Rowing Championships, in partnership with Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), brought together young athletes, dedicated coaches and officials, and enthusiastic supporters from across South Africa for an unforgettable weekend of fierce on-the-water competition. The prestigious event, which ran from Friday to Sunday, saw schools from all provinces converge on the banks of Roodeplaat Dam to compete at the highest level of school rowing.

With thrilling races across all categories, the event demonstrated the resilience and spirit of South African rowing. From the first heat to the final sprint, each athlete displayed exceptional commitment, reinforcing the strength of school rowing in the country. Regardless of podium finishes, every competitor played a part in making the weekend a true celebration of the sport.

Among the standout performances, St Andrew’s Girls School dominated in the women’s first and second quadruple sculls, securing gold in both events on Sunday afternoon. In the men’s second eight division, St Stithians Boys College emerged victorious, while the highly anticipated final race of the weekend—the men’s first eight—ended in triumph for St Benedict’s College.

Rowing South Africa extends its sincere gratitude to all who participated, from the rowers and coaches to the families and supporters who filled the banks with energy and encouragement. A special acknowledgment goes to headline sponsor RMB, whose unwavering commitment to youth development and the sport of rowing continues to propel the next generation of South African athletes forward.

“RMB has been a proud partner to Rowing South Africa for almost 10 years – from grassroots, to schools, universities, and the pinnacle of the RMB National Squad. This year’s SA Schools Championships was another great success and showcase of the power of this sport and this community at its foundation. It’s incredibly exciting to know that somewhere on the water over the weekend were future Olympians,” says Michael Edwards, Sponsorships Marketing Lead at RMB.

Reflecting on the weekend, Rowing South Africa President Ben Burnand remarked, “What a weekend! We experienced incredible rowing and amazing community spirit. From Cape Point to Gaborone, families and friends came together to be part of an event run to world-class standards by our team of officials. We were honoured to have Gauteng Executive Member Ms. Sheila Peters and Michael Edwards from RMB with us to hand out trophies and, more than this, be part of the entire experience. A standout moment was seeing the Germiston and St. Alban’s 1st doubles crews arm in arm, flexing their biceps—as you do at that age—for a photo, epitomising for me how important sport is in bringing us together.”

The RMB SA Schools Rowing Championships not only highlighted the country’s top young rowing talent but also fostered camaraderie, sportsmanship, and a deep passion for the sport. With another remarkable edition concluded, the rowing community looks ahead with excitement to the continued growth and success of South African school rowing.

For further information please visit https://rowsa.co.za/