Stiff wind conditions added spice to the racing at the 10th staging of the prestigious Old Mutual South African Schools Rowing Boat Race on the Kowie River in Port Alfred last weekend.
Stiff wind conditions added spice to the racing at the 10th staging of the prestigious Old Mutual South African Schools Rowing Boat Race on the Kowie River in Port Alfred last weekend.
Thirteen boys' crews, rowing VIIIs, and seven girls' crews, rowing quads, took part. The Saturday time trial, known as the Heads Race, produced some interesting results, with Bishop Bavin being a surprise finalist in the boys' event and DSG in the girl’s event. The finals on Sunday produced some exciting racing throughout the day.
The event is modeled on the Oxford/Cambridge rowing event, over 6km for the boys and 4km for the girls. There are two-boat finals all the way down the order and these boats race down the length of the course on the serpentine Kowie River, where the corners and sandbanks always produce interesting tactical challenges.
Hosts St Andrew's, who have won the SA Schools Boat Race six times, and who have been unbeaten this year so far, had to settle for sixth place overall. Last year’s bronze medallists, KES, from Johannesburg, were crowned champions for the first time, beating Bishop Bavin in the A Final.
Taking the bronze was St John’s, who accounted for St Benedict’s and SACS in the B Final. In the girl’s event there was an epic struggle between DSG and St Andrews, the boats racing neck-and-neck all the way to the finish. DSG, who also went into the race unbeaten this year, finished in their best spot yet in the champs, with a second place.
For their effort, DSG were awarded the Most Improved Performance trophy, while Bishop Bavin won the trophy in the boys' event.
