The St Stithians Boys’ College Rowing Club was established in 1969, and is one the premier boys' schools rowing clubs in the country. 

The Rowing Club has a boat house at the National training venue, Roodeplaat Dam, and boasts an impressive fleet of boats and equipment. On site, the club has a dedicated indoor training venue for ergo and land training sessions. The club competes locally on a weekly basis in the summer season, with regular tours to the Eastern Cape to compete on a National front for some age groups. The Rowing season split up in two and each half of the season culminates with a major regatta. First half is Gauteng Schools Championships in November and second half, the main season, the South African Schools Championships in March. Rowing is a very old and prestigious sport with its origins, traceable back to the early 18th century. It is often regarded as the ultimate team sport, as rowers must train hard, work precisely together and trust one-another in order to achieve success. Rowing commands mental toughness and discipline, but it can be extremely rewarding and often life-changing. A community is developed by both rowers and parents and life long friendships formed in the boats or on the banks of the dam. Saints rowing takes a very well balanced and holistic approach to training its athletes and does not utilize a ‘blanket programme’ for all rowers. Each athlete has a place in the club. Physical and mental factors as well as their individual goals are considered in order to determine the appropriate training for their particular stage of development. Each athlete is encouraged and offered the tools and guidance to perform to the best of their ability. Saints Rowing is more than just another ‘sport’. As a ‘club’, we understand we are part of a greater community and therefore hold the responsibility to the best people we can be. The boys interact with other rowers of all ages, assisting them socially at school and benefiting everyone with mentor/mentee relationships. Rowers also enjoy the opportunity to interact with the girls’ club rowers of similar age at camps and regattas where they interact and support each other. 

ATHENKOSI HLEKANI

DIRECTOR OF ROWING