St Andrew’s scoops medals at rowing competition
“St Andrew’s won the U14 and U16 age group trophies and the overall girls’ schools points trophy.”
The South African Schools Rowing Championships recently brought together schools and clubs from across SA.
Hosted annually by the South African Schools Rowing Union (SASRU) on the first weekend of March at the Roodeplaat Dam in Pretoria, the event is a highlight on the rowing calendar.
This year, over 200 events were scheduled across the three-day competition, with about 1 500 rowers from 36 schools and clubs representing SA, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and other neighbouring countries.
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The championships follow a structured format, with crews progressing through heats and semi-finals to compete for the title of national champions.
“St Andrew’s won the U14 and U16 age group trophies and the overall girls’ schools points trophy. In addition, St Andrew’s won the most gold medals, finishing first in 10 of the 19 events, with three silvers and six bronzes.
“St Andrew’s has produced many high-performance rowers who have competed nationally and internally – including at the World Championships and the Olympics,” said the school’s marketer, Caterina Cannone.
A highlight of the season was the achievements of St Andrew’s first quad.
The crew comprising Amber Potgieter, Gabrielle Manson, Jade Burnand, Kristyn Xavier and coxswain Keatlaretse Kganakga won all four major regattas this season.
They claimed gold at the Gauteng Schools Rowing Championships (November 2024), the Boatrace Regatta (December 2024), the Buffalo Regatta (February 2025), and the South African Schools Rowing Championships (March 2025).
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“We are incredibly fortunate to have Jamie Croly as our head coach, whose dedication and expertise have been instrumental in the team’s success.
“We thank all the coaches and parents for their support and commitment. RMB is a proud partner of Rowing South African, and the rowing community appreciates its ongoing support,” she added.
