St Benedict’s maintains rowing record unbeaten for 31 years

St Benedict’s College has once again solidified its unrivalled legacy in South African school rowing, claiming the national championship title for an extraordinary 31st consecutive year.

At the prestigious annual schools’ regatta earlier this month, they demonstrated remarkable dominance, securing first place in the majority of events despite formidable competition.

The Bennies rowers outperformed elite teams from across South Africa’s top rowing schools, further cementing their pedigree in the sport’s national landscape.

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The prestigious three-day national regatta unfolded at Roodeplaat Dam, where crews representing 33 boys’ and girls’ schools and clubs from around South Africa and Zimbabwe converged in fierce competition.

St Benedict’s countless hours of rigorous training – both on water and land – proved decisive in securing their victory.

The shared determination to defend their coveted title created an unbreakable bond among the Bennies rowers.

For the graduating seniors, the regatta marked a poignant conclusion to their school rowing careers, adding emotional depth to an already triumphant performance.

Commenting on the win, St Benedict’s old boy and head of the school’s rowing club, Darryn Roff said, “Thirty-one years of success isn’t easy – it requires extraordinary dedication from our boys.

Despite winning becoming the norm, these young men continuously carry the weight of a legacy on their shoulders.”

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“During the regatta weekend, our U14s broke the course record in the octuple despite conditions that weren’t favourable for record-breaking.

“They also managed to secure first and second places in the quad, along with an exceptional clean sweep of first, second, and third in the U14 scull – a tremendous showing from our young rowers,” added Roff.

Roff went on to say that the first eight and U16 eight won by emphatic margins.

Additionally, for the first time since 1996, St Benedict’s claimed victory in the first sculling event, with Michael Teixeira (Grade 11) achieving what was last accomplished by Athol Hundermark, who has since gone on to coach winning Henley Royal Regatta crews and now works at Shrewsbury School in the UK.

The school placed first in the U14, U16 and Open age groups.

The tightly contested and highly prized 1st Eight race, often described as the main event of the weekend, also went to St Benedict’s.

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When all the scores were tallied, St Benedict’s was recognised as South Africa’s top boys’ rowing school winning with 466 points.

College Head Dave Jeffrey said, “St Benedict’s long-standing reputation as one of South Africa’s rowing powerhouses has been reaffirmed by this victory.

Our 31-year streak isn’t luck – it’s built on unwavering dedication, with our boys training rigorously at dawn and dusk, both on and off the water.

Their sacrifices and perseverance have yielded extraordinary results that make us immensely proud. Behind this success stands the commitment of coaches and parents, alongside our continuous investment in rowing as our flagship sport.

Parents know that when their child signs up for the sport, the whole family becomes a rowing family. From early morning drop-offs to the extensive travel to reach training venues and regattas, and more. It’s a massive commitment.”

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Adding to this, Jeffrey said that this winning culture naturally attracts participation, with a remarkable percentage of boys choosing rowing as their summer pursuit.

“We’re particularly excited about the transformation we’re witnessing in the sport, with diverse representation across all boat classes, age groups, and coaching staff – a development we’ve intentionally cultivated and celebrate.”

Roff added, “Success in rowing demands both hard work and persistence.

Our training is scientifically grounded and enriched by years of experience, while our mentoring approach instils deep self-belief in our athletes.

This combination – the Bennies way – has proven remarkably effective.

Our rowing culture, continuously supported by school management and shaped significantly by old boys who’ve returned as coaches, has fostered diligence, teamwork, unwavering dedication, and a commitment to building a lasting legacy.

Over the years, St Benedict’s has produced numerous top South African rowers and international university athletes – a tradition we’re determined to perpetuate.”

While Jeffrey reflected that watching the boys’ row is truly a sight to behold.

“They transform into a single, seamlessly functioning unit – poetry in motion, a symphony of synchronised blades that propelled them to the podium.

Congratulations to these remarkable young men; your achievement stands as a milestone for St Benedict’s and will be celebrated for years to come.”

Around 80 officials were part of the day’s proceedings with 3 600 spectators supporting the 1 177 athletes (393 girls and 784 boys) who participated in the 2025 South African Rowing Championships.