SA Schools Rowing champs - St Andrew's School for Girls

SA Schools Rowing champs. Photo: St Andrew’s staff: Mr Mostert (Head of Outdoor Education), Mr Croly (Head Coach), Amber Potgieter (Rowing Captain), Mrs Nooy (Head of Sport), Mrs Jeffrey (Exec Head & Senior School Head)

Roodeplaat Dam

The SA Schools Rowing champs took place over 3 days last weekend. It was attended by schools and clubs from all over South Africa. South African Schools Rowing Union (SASRU) hosts the South African Schools Rowing Championships annually. It takes place on the first weekend of March at Roodeplaat Dam in Pretoria. Over 200 events are scheduled over a three-day period. Approximately 1,500 rowers from 36 schools and clubs from South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe and other neighbouring states participated. The competition consists of crews progressing though heats and semi-finals to race for the title of National Champions.

St Andrew’s won the U14 and U16 Age group trophies as well as the Overall Girls’ Schools Points Trophy. In addition, St Andrew’s won the most gold medals finishing 1st in 10 of the 19 events offered. They also won 3 Silvers and 6 Bronzes. St Andrew’s has produced many high-performance rowers, who have competed nationally and internally – including World Championships and Olympics!

Four of the major regattas

St Andrew’s 1^st Quad, comprised of Amber Potgieter, Gabrielle Manson, Jade Burnand, Kristyn Xavier, and coxswain Keatlaretse Kganakga, have achieved a remarkable feat by winning all four of the major regattas this season – taking gold in Gauteng Schools Rowing Championships (November 2024), Boatrace Regatta (December 2024), Buffalo Regatta (February 2025), and South African Schools Rowing Championships (March 2025). We are fortunate to have Mr Jamie Croly as our Head Coach, who has been instrumental in the girls’ success; and we are extremely grateful to all the coaches and parents for their unwavering support and commitment. RMB is a proud partner of South African Rowing, and the rowing community at large are forever grateful for their support.