Rowing Parents Handbook 2011 - 2012 - St Andrew's College

ROWING HANDBOOK
2011/2012

CONTENTS
PAGE
• Message from the Rowing Master in Charge 4
• Message from Chairperson of Parent Support Group Committee 5
• The Rowing Club Structure 6
• History of Rowing at SAC 9
• Regatta Program 2011 – 2012 12
• General Information
– Rowing Season 13
– Training 14
– Crew selection 14
– Equipment 15
– Rowing Terminology 17
– Rowing Club Costs 18
– Regattas
• Items to bring to regattas 19
• The Regattas 20
• Rowers’ dress 25
• 1 st 8 Privileges & Traditions 26
• Rowers’ Code of Conduct 27
2

CONTENTS Cont’d
• Understanding the Regatta Program 28
• The Sport of Rowing 29
• Rowing Websites 31
• Information for the Boys 32
• Rowing and Academics 35
• Anti -Doping Policy 37
• Information for the Parents 38
• Appendices
PAGE
– Appendix I
SAC Rowing Club Parents Support Group Terms of Reference 39
– Appendix III
Piper Contacts 40
3

MESSAGES
From the Rowing Master in Charge
The 2010/2011 Season was a challenging one, in many respects. Not only was the
continuous afternoon slog to Port Alfred a long and arduous one, but we had to
perform to our expectant norms of outstanding results. This made life very
demanding for those who persevered, as so much expectation was put on their
shoulders.
But persevere they did and the seeds of such perseverance and dedication will
hopefully bear fruit in the forthcoming season. I expect all our age groups to come
into their own!
The good news is that Settlers Dam is full , which is cause for celebration. We expect
almost all our rowing activity to take place on the dam. This should give the club a
much needed boost as everyone will enjoy more rowing time, more coaching time
and of course way less hassle.
On the school campus we have renovated our Ergo Room and may move to even
better premises under the new dining hall. Everything is coming right for St Andrew’s
College rowing which can only point towards an exciting, successful season ahead.
See you at the waters edge!
Donovan Cech
4

MESSAGES
From the Chairperson of the Parent Support Group Committee
Welcome to all our Rowing Parents, and especially to our new parents and rowers.
Rowing is no ordinary sport. You are embarking on an incredible journey of emotional
highs and lows. Nevertheless one that will leave you a rowing convert, avid,
(sometimes hysterical) supporter, and a Rowing Club family member.
Rowing at College is a sport which has its foundations built well over 50 years ago. It is
rich in tradition, history and success, with many fantastic moments woven into it's
fabric. We depend on you, the committed SACRC parent body, to involve yourself in our
wonderful club. Our goal is to support the rowing staff and boys, together with our
primary aim of fundraising .
As usual, this year we have an energetic volunteer committee, who have come up with
exciting new initiatives. These include creating a template for annuity fundraising for
the years ahead. As with any ideas, these will only come to fruition if we get your
support, suggestions and Involvement . If you feel that you can help on any level,
please do !
We welcome all involvement and suggestions in our singleminded drive for a balanced,
successful and happy group of rowers and Club .
In closing, you will witness with pride, the gradual carving out of character,
perseverance under pressure, focus and camaraderie in your boys that is synonymous
with rowing.
Enjoy the journey !
Roy Slack
5

CLUB STRUCTURE
• All parents, rowing staff and rowers are members of the rowing club : the parents
provide support in terms of fundraising, help at regattas etc.
• See SAC Rowing Club Parents’ Support Group Terms of Reference : Appendix I
SAC Rowing Staff :
• Rowing MIC : Donovan Cech 083 561 7841
• Director of Sport : Pete Andrew 083 301 1098
• Supporting Staff : Harold Hobson 071 876 3910
Simon Kroon 082 449 7043
Mickey Paterson 083 412 8122
Coaches :
• 1 st VIII coach : Donovan Cech 083 561 7841
• 2 nd VIII coach : Graham Allin 083 555 6295
• U16 coaches Harold Hobson 071 876 3910
Tom Cahill 082 331 8830
• U15 coach Courtney De Barros 082 879 4492
• U14 coach Julia Lindop 084 299 5935
6

CLUB STRUCTURE
School Office Bearers
• Captain : Greg Slack 078 112 6672
• Vice captain : Matthew Shone 084 407 1431
• Boatman : Nick Fleischer 079 578 3927
• Secretary : Michael Bennett 079 695 7912
Election of the School Office Holders
• Elections for the new Office Bearers are done within 30 days after SA Champs.
• All boys who have rowed for at least one full season are entitled to vote once per
office title.
• No boy may hold more than one title in any given season cycle.
Captain and Vice- Captain Job Description
• The Captain and Vice- Captain should do their best to ensure the following:
1. That all rowers uphold the Rowers Code of Conduct.
2. That transgressors of this Code are reported to the Rowing MIC or a SAC Rowing
Staff Member.
3. That all rowers understand and respect that the Coaches requests and
instructions overrule any crew instructions or intentions.
4. That along with the Boatman, they should be the first to arrive and last to leave
regattas, ensuring that the rowers have completed all their necessary tasks.
5. That they consider any request from a rower for permission to leave a regatta
with balance, considering the rowers obligations to both the club and their
personal commitments.
6. That they attend all prize givings after regattas.
7. That all boys receiving awards are present at regatta prize givings.
8. Assist any rower in understanding any duty or commitment that the rower may
be unsure about.
9. Follow up on any rower who is absent from any duty, be it training, boat loading,
and report the reason for absence to the Director of Rowing.
7

CLUB STRUCTURE
SAC Rowing Club Parent Support Group Committee 2011/2012:
• Chairperson : Roy Slack (Open, Eastern Cape) 083 6580599
• Vice Chairperson : Tim Fleischer (Open, Eastern Cape) 082 5547669
• Committee Members :
• John Bennett (Open, Gauteng) 082 4615017
• Ed Bovijn (Open, Eastern Cape) 082 4675773
• Mark Moses (U16, Gauteng) 083 4546888
• Colin Muskett (Open, Eastern Cape) 082 7793744
• Sally Price-Smith (U15, Eastern Cape) 072 5051621
8

HISTORY OF SAC ROWING
Extracts from : M. 2008. The Boy in You: a biography of St Andrew’s College, 1855-2005.
Simon’s Town: Fernwood Press. Pg. 407-410
• Fifty years after the establishment of the St Andrew’s Rowing Club the school has a
reputation as one of the finest rowing schools in the country. But there have been some
moments of keen alarm and despair: moments when the existence of the club has hung
in the balance and Council has held a sword over it. In both 1966 and 1977 Council felt it
had no option but to declare the club “closed”.
• The miracle of its rescue and subsequent rise to fame was encapsulated in the moment
when the College crew took to the water at the Henley Royal Regatta in England in 2004.
• “In the past no South African schools’ crew has finished higher than the top sixteen at
Henley, so finishing in the top four was a sterling achievement for the St Andrew’s crew.”
• It was not only a moment of triumph for John Gearing, the Springbok rower and gifted
coach of the St Andrew’s squad, it was a moment to salute the perseverance and
bulldog-tenacity of Axel Ohlsson, who, despite the appalling odds in the early days, had
ensured that rowing at St Andrew’s would not die.
• Tribute must also be paid to Martin Kennard, whose dedicated and skilled contribution
elevated the standard of rowing to new levels, from which the success at Henley was
made possible.
• The first competition in which a College rowing team participated was the Annual
Buffalo Regatta in 1959. Through the generosity of the Buffalo Rowing Club the College
IV was lent a boat and blades for the occasion. “They were not very successful,”
commented the apologetic headmaster.
• Nothing daunted, a second IV took to the water in 1959 and, within a year, the rowers
had taken part in four regattas and won the School Coxed IVs in Bloemfontein. The first
equipment was “White Rigger”, an old boat borrowed from Rhodes until St Andrew’s
was able to buy its own “Chumph”, in 1959.
• Training camps at the Kowie became an annual pattern and, in 1964, 18 boys attended a
four-day training session. Subsequently, the First VIII came first in the Border Junior VIIIs
– a great fillip to their confidence. During their university vacations two former College
rowing captains, David Wylde (1962) and Hugh Duncan Brown (1962), gave great
assistance to captain Hugh Crail (1965) in preparing the team for competition, especially
for the Buffalo Regatta – an event at which parents with homes at the Kowie or Kariega
or in East London, provide hungry rowers with lunches, dinners and offers of
warm beds. 9

HISTORY OF SAC ROWING
• Today, it is evident that a successful rowing coach has time for very little else but training
his crews, servicing his boats and organizing events. Hours, days and weeks are spent away
from the school and it is a particularly taxing sport for a housemaster. In 1973 Axel handed
over the Rowing Club to Chris “Megaphone” Morton (1964), a memorable senior student
officer and an inspirational coach, and College crews took part in the Wemmer Pan Sprint
Regatta and the Junior Tridents Provincial Eights at the South African Games.
“Nevertheless, Axel continued to take a very active interest. The club had begun with a
single crew of five and, by the time he retired, it had grown to 35, with a shadow
membership of many more and a brand new boat from Australia.
• In 1966 the rowing club had been rescued by a few determined Johannesburg parents. In
1977 the Council again voted for the closure of the club. This would have been tragic in
view of the enormous successes during Morton’s era, including the gathering of six major
trophies in1975, in the year Stuart Rennie, the St Andrew’s cox, was voted the best at the
South African Rowing Championships and College became the first junior crew in South
Africa to break the 5-minute barrier for the 1 500 metres with a time of 4 minutes 53.3
seconds. But with expenses mounting it seemed there was no choice, despite the success
of both the First VIII and the U15 squad, both of which made it into the finals of the South
African Rowing Championships in 1976.”
• When Council concluded in 1977 that the club would have to be closed, it did not count on
the passion of Old Andreans Rodney Still and Peter Searle, nor did it anticipate their
generosity and commitment to keeping the boat afloat. Two minibuses were provided to
help transport the boats, funds were forthcoming, and John Penberthy, that splendid
swimmer, Springbok diver and all-round sportsman, took over the coaching for a short
while. In his year as coach, five of the school rowers were selected for Border schools and
the U15 VIII were unbeaten and won the national championships in Pretoria in 1978.
• On the departure of John Penberthy in 1979, Axel Ohlsson once again took over as masterin-charge
of rowing. Although his interest and commitment did not flag and he remained
the guiding spirit, his enforced absences from Grahamstown on liaison work interfered
with the cohesion of the club. His sudden death in 1986 left the Rowing Club rudderless.
Dusty Kenyon kept it functioning during the Trinity Term of 1986 until Martin Kennard,
who had successfully stroked for Oxford (1966-1968) and for Britain (1967), arrived at
College and took the sport into realms of achievement which have been in the ascendant
ever since.
• Kennard’s arrival gave a depth to rowing coaching which established St Andrew’s as a
major force in the sport in South Africa. Within a year he had introduced inter-house
sculling and, by 1989, there was a third Rowing VIII for the first time in the history of the
club.
• The club went from strength to strength. Mark Bilbe and Barry Worthington were the
champion rowing pair in South Africa in 1992 and the first College boys since the inception
of the competition to win this title. In the same year Bilbe and Halvar Mathiesen
represented South Africa as members of the Junior squad which competed in Norway.
10

HISTORY OF SAC ROWING
• At the end of 1992 Kennard’s son, James went from College for a sixth-form year at
Radley in England. He captained the Radley first VIII and was selected as a member of
the British VIII to compete in Switzerland. The crew won two golds. It was the start of a
wonderful career in the sport for James Kennard and it was a devastating blow both for
his family and for St Andrew’s when he was killed on his way to a regatta in 1997. Martin
Kennard’s last year at College, 1994, was a vintage season for rowing. Grant Lapping and
Richard Steel-Gray, son of Bruce (1966), a future chairman of Council, were selected to
row as juniors for South Africa in Belgium and Norway and were rated among the top 18
pairs in the West. That year the Senior VIII won the Selborne Regatta for the first time
since its inception in 1962.
• In the years between Kennard’s departure and John Gearing’s arrival Brendan Doolan
and Mike Fennell took charge of rowing, with the help of various coaches. In 1995 St
Andrew’s First VIII, which had had a successful tour to Poland, won the South African
Championships for the first time in 20 years and was invited to Henley. The oarsmen
were all awarded Honours for their achievement.
• In 1998 the First IV won at the South African championships but the First VIII came third,
thus ending a three-year domination of the sport at school level.
• Just as gentle Chris Rheeder had inspired a generation of rugby players in the 1920s,
modest, self-effacing John Gearing has had a profound influence at St Andrew’s during
the years that he coached rowing. As with Rheeder, his men would follow wherever he
led. Never a raised voice, never a domineering word. His integrity was inspirational and
his skill had earned him his Springbok colours as an oarsman. It is no wonder that Radley,
that distinguished English public school with a strong rowing tradition, should have
offered him the post of senior coach in 2007, but it was a huge loss for College.
• Rowing became the prince of sports at College.
• In 2001 St Andrew’s First VIII won the inaugural South African Schools Boat Race. In the
next year five boys competed in the Junior World Championships in Lithuania, while the
First IV gathered the laurels at the South African Junior Championships. In 2003 the
senior crew went to the world championships in Greece, where they won bronze. When
the oarsmen were all presented with their Honours awards at school, the whole of
College spontaneously stood in homage.
• Six of the rowers were selected in 2004 to row for South Africa at the World Rowing
Championships in Spain. They came fourth. Back home, they won the South African
Schools Boat Race for the third time and the IV came first in the South African
Championships. In the Jubilee year the VIII was triumphant in the South African Schools
Boat Race and retained their South African Junior title. At Henley they competed against
Abingdon and lost – but not without honour.
• The bunting and the tradition, the elegant state-of-the art boats, the pedigree of the
clubs, the oarsmen and the sleek skimming craft: this was a far cry form old “Chumph”
wading up the river at Kariega with Axel roaring from the bank and Eric Tasmer cooking
up eggs and bacon in Geoff Palmer’s cottage for the ravenous crews when they came
back from a hot, salty, sunburned row up the river. How Axel would have rejoiced,
remembering his own days in “boats” at Cambridge. 1111

REGATTA PROGRAM 2011/2012
• Interhouse Rowing Regatta 7 August 2011
• Settler’s Dam, Grahamstown
• August Camp 30 Aug -5 Sept 2011
• Settler’s Dam, Grahamstown - Open Squad, U16 Squad
• Buffalo Heads Regatta 17 September 2011
• Buffalo River, East London - All age groups
• Eastern Cape Championships 22 October 2011
• Buffalo River, East London - All age groups
• Knysna Halfway Regatta 29-30 October 2011
• Belverdere, Knysna - Opens, U16’s, U15’s
• Nemato Social Regatta 5 November 2011
• Tyume Dam, Hogsback - All age groups
• Pre Schools Boatrace Camp 29 November to 8 December 2011
• Port Alfred - 1 st 8
•
• Old Mutual Schools Boatrace 9-11 December 2011
• Kowie River, Port Alfred - 1 st 8
• January Camp 11-17 January 2012( 1 st 8 :10-17 January 2012)
• Settler’s Dam, Grahamstown - All age groups
• Eastern Cape Indoor Rowing Championships 21 January 2012
• East London /Port Alfred - All age groups
• ZRC / Grey Regatta 28 January 2012
• Zwartkops River, Port Elizabeth - All Age Groups
• Grey U14 Regatta 4 February 2012
• Zwartkops River, Port Elizabeth - U14’s
• River Vaal Regatta (4-5 February 2012)
• Vaal River, Gauteng - 1 st 8 (Optional -to be confirmed)
• Settler’s Dam Sprint Regatta 12 February 2012
• Settler’s Dam, Grahamstown - All age groups (TO BE CONFIRMED !)
• Selborne Sprint Regatta & Buffalo Regatta 16-18 February 2012
• Buffalo River, East London - All age groups except U14’s
• SA Schools Championships 2-4 March 2012
• Roodeplaat Dam, Pretoria - All age groups
12

THE ROWING SEASON
• Rowing, a major summer sport at SAC, takes place during the 3 rd term and the first
half of the first term.
• The 2011/2012 regatta program is slightly different to what it has been in the past.
The first Regatta will be the Buffalo Heads Regatta in East London, which will be
followed by the Eastern Cape Championships and then the Knysna Regatta and
Nemato RC Social Regatta will end off the calendar year for most club members,
except for the 1 st Eight who train on for the Old Mutual Schools Boatrace.
• The Old Mutual Schools’ Boat Race (a 6km heads race) is held on the Kowie River in
Port Alfred , normally over the first weekend of the December holidays. This is a
national event for 1 st VIII crews and it is starting to attract overseas crews as well.
• The second half of the season starts with Rowing Camp for the whole club at
Settler’s Dam, normally held in the last week of the Christmas holidays (early to mid
January. The ZRC/ Grey regatta is first up, followed by the Selborne Sprints and
Buffalo Regatta in East London in February and finally the SA Champs in Gauteng, in
early March.
• The SAC 1 st Eight may participate in River Vaal Regatta (RVR) in Gauteng prior to the
Buffalo Regatta
• SAC rowers may attend the SA Senior Champs as well, normally end April , after
which they may continue to SA Junior National Selection trials and if good enough
may be chosen to represent SA at the Junior World Championships
13

TRAINING
• Training takes place either:
1. On the school premises (SAC Ergo room or SAC Rowing Tank)
2. At Settler’s Dam in the Thomas Baines Nature Reserve, and
3. At Port Alfred on the Kowie River.
• U14 and U15 boys are taught to scull (2 blades per rower) and may row singles,
doubles, quads and octuples.
• U16 and open boys may continue to scull ,but in addition they are taught to row
with one blade (sweep oar rowing), stroke side (right) or bow (left).
• Training times are set by the age group coach, in collaboration with the Director, a
week in advance and boys may not miss training except for medical reasons. The
coach must be informed as far in advance of the training session as possible, in
order for him /her to be able to organize a substitute rower for the boat.
CREW SELECTION
Crews will be selected to compete in regattas by the Age Group Coaches in
collaboration with the Director of Rowing.
There are a number of factors taken into account in selecting a crew:
1. Ergo Trial Times – show raw strength, endurance, determination and power to
weight ratio.
2. Rowing Technical Ability
3. Seat Boat Racing Ability – boys may race a series of races in different
combinations.
4. Personality – team harmony is important, but all boys should be encouraged
to work together towards common goals.
5. Commitment and Training Ethos
14

ST ANDREWS COLLEGE ROWING CLUB
INVENTORY
LISTING
Jun-11
EQUIPMENT
ITEM BOAT BOAT NAME BOAT MAKE MODEL COMMENTS
1 8+ PERSEUS FILIPPI F09 1ST 8 BOAT
2 8+ MORRIGAN FILIPPI 2ND 8 BOAT (U16A RACING BOAT IF NO EVENT CLASH)
3 8+ PARKIN JOHN WAUGH U16 BOAT
4 8+ PEGASUS JOHN WAUGH 1 PIECE ANY CREW
5 8X ISIS JOHN WAUGH U14 / U15
6 4+ / 4X OPTIMUS FILIPPI F34 RACING BOAT ONLY (EXCEPT 1ST 4+ TRAINING)
7 4+ ATHENA JOHN WAUGH 1ST / 2ND / U16A 4+
8 4+ TRAKAI JOHN WAUGH 2ND / 3RD / U16A / U16B 4+
9 4+/4X POSEIDON JOHN WAUGH U15 A / U15B 4X
10 4X QUO VADIS JOHN WAUGH U15B / U14A 4X
11 4X / 4+ AFRICUS JOHN WAUGH U14 A/U14B 4X
12 2- / 2X ARO FILLIPPI 2ND / 3RD / U16A /U15A 2- (X)
13 2- SPIRIT OF DAVE TRIP FILLIPPI 1ST 2- / (U16A 2- at BUFF and SA Champs Race only)
14 2-/2X GOWRIE JOHN WAUGH U16 A /U16B /U15A / U15B / U14A / U14B 2- (X)
15 2-/2X VASCO JOHN WAUGH U16 A /U16B /U15A / U15B / U14A / U14B 2- (X)
16 2-/2X MAVERICK JOHN WAUGH U14 - TRAINING BOAT
17 1X NEW SCULL JOHN WAUGH 1ST/ 2ND/ U16A/ U15A (U14A at SA Champs only)
18 1X YELLOW JOHN WAUGH
1ST / 2ND/ 3RD / 4TH/ U16 A /U16B /U15A / U15B / U14A /
U14B
19 1X SPIRIT OF MACKAY JOHN WAUGH
1ST / 2ND/ 3RD / 4TH/ U16 A /U16B /U15A / U15B / U14A /
U14B
1ST / 2ND/ 3RD / 4TH/ U16 A /U16B /U15A / U15B / U14A /
20 1X PRAYING MENTIS JOHN WAUGH
U14B
15

EQUIPMENT USE
BOAT USE
• Crews are assigned boats as per the equipment listing on page 15
• Deviation from this listing must be approved by the SAC Rowing MIC prior to use
and approval is made at the MIC’s sole discretion, bearing the following in mind:
1. The approved use does not negatively influence the performance of any other
crew that qualifies to row in that particular boat as per the listing.
2. The new crew rowing the boat has the necessary technical ability to perform in
it.
3. The new crew rowing the boat has the necessary skills so as to not damage the
boat whilst getting on and off, as well as whilst on the water itself.
• Boys are responsible for the equipment they use. Damage must be reported to the
MIC / coach immediately, so that repairs can be arranged.
• Boys have to keep their boats clean ; it is the crew’s responsibility to make sure that
boats are washed and packed, securely tied on trailers or racks when stored
outdoors. The coach will check that this has been done adequately.
• At regattas it is the school office bearer’s responsibility (Capt, V-Capt & Boatman),
supported by the 1 st VIII, to make sure that the crews have packed, loaded their
equipment and that all are secured on trailers etc.
• Crews pack their own boats : each crew reports for boat loading and unloading
before and after all regattas and camps in accordance with the boat loading
schedules.
• The most important loading event of all is the unloading and cleaning of boats after
the SA Championships. ALL rowers and coxes must be prepared to spend a full
afternoon in the week after the SA Champs to fulfil this task. It would usually be the
Wednesday afternoon or Sunday afternoon following the regatta. Boys must notify
the MIC, in person, by Tuesday 2pm latest, in that week, if they cannot attend the
unloading.
16

ROWING TERMINOLOGY
• Blade / spoon – the part of an oar which propels the boat.
• Bow – Front of the boat with a bowball on its tip for safety.
• Bowman – The rower in the bow of the boat. When the boat is coxless (ie. no
coxwain) the bowman issues the commands and steers the boat.
• Bowside – Right side looking from stern to bow (green colour on oars)
• Catch – The beginning of the stroke where the blade is inserted into the water
• Coxwain – The person who steers the boat. He either sits in the stern in an eight
or lies in the bow in a four.
• Double – A sculling boat with 2 rowers.
• Drive – the phase of the rowing stroke which propels the boat.
• Eight – A sweep oar boat with 8 rowers.
• Feathering – When the blade is turned horizontally during the recovery.
• Finish – When the oar is taken out of the water.
• Footboard – The device you strap your feet into.
• Four – A Sweep oar boat with 4 rowers.
• Gunwale / Gunnel – The top edge of the side of a boat.
• Gate – The device that holds the oar and allows it to pivot around the rigger pin.
• Pair – A sweep oar boat for 2 rowers.
• Pin – The steel bar attached to a rigger which holds the gate in place.
• Port / Stroke Side – Left side looking from stern to bow ( red colour on oars)
• Quad – A sculling boat for 4 rowers.
• Recovery – The slide forward from the finish to the catch of a stroke.
• Rigger – An aluminium / carbon extension attached to the boat which holds
the pin and gate.
• Sculling boat – A boat which has rowers with 2 oars each.
• Shell – The boat body.
• Single – A sculling boat for 1 person
• Slide – The seat that the rower sits on in the boat.
• Squaring “up” – When the blade is turned from feathered (horizontal) to vertical.
• Stern – The rear of the boat.
• Stroke – The rower who is at the back of the boat ( but in front of the rest of
the crew.) He sets the crews pace.
• Sweep - A boat in which each rower has one oar.
17

ROWING CLUB COSTS
The following expenses are covered by school fees:
• Coaches wages and salaries
• Equipment
• Transport of boys and equipment to local training venues and regattas.
• Motor boat petrol
• Repairs and Maintenance of equipment.
• ROWSA Club Affiliation
• General Expenses
The following expenses are covered by parents:
These will typically get charged to your school account.
• Rowing kit (R 150/ tri-suit)
• Accommodation and flights (where applicable) for rowers and coaches at all
regattas.
• Regatta fees
• ROWSA Rower membership (R100) and Settler’s Dam Boat Club Membership (R50).
• Camp meals /food (there may be meals debited to your account in term, to offset
such expenses.)
One should estimate these expenses to total between R 7 000 and R 10 000 per annum
all in, depending on which crew / age group you son is in.
Revenue generated out of SAC Rowing Club activities
• One of the most important functions of the Parents Support Group is to raise funds
for the rowing club : the current annual target is R 200 000.
• Funds are raised in many ways, e.g. golf days/ dinners / auctions / shows / sales of
goods / donations / requested voluntary annual fees – currently R1000 per rower.
• All revenue realized from fund raising activities is to be paid into the SACRC account
for the benefit of the club and its activities. The committee shall have the discretion
to do the following:
1. Offer financial support to any SACRC rower representing a provincial or national team. If
the financial assistance is not used by the rower for the intended purpose, it must be
refunded to SACRC by the parent receiving the financial assistance.
2. Use the revenue received for the running of the SACRC activities and / or for equipment
purchases.
3. No-one may benefit financially from the SACRC activities without the approval of the
committee. Any expenses incurred in raising the revenue must be paid by SACRC.
18

REGATTAS
Items to bring to Regattas (Parents)
• Binoculars
• Camera
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Deck chair
• Gazebo or beach umbrella. We have a few gazebos, some exclusively for the boys at
regattas and 2 for parents at SA Champs. These 2 are stored by Greg and Judy
Hunter who erect them on the SACRC allocated “:spot” for SA Champs. They are
usually supplemented with other gazebos to provide maximum shade as it can be
very hot
• Hat
• Wet weather gear when rain looms.
• Supporters’ shirts, hats will be available for sale at regattas from Sally Price- Smith.
• Regatta Draw and Program
• We will endeavour to forward all parents the regatta program. However the Draw
may change on the last day or overnight before the regatta starts, so it is always
good to download it from www.regatta.co.za as late as possible to ensure there
have been no changes to starting times.
• Cooler boxes with refreshments of your choice are allowed at all regattas except the
Selborne and Buffalo Regattas.(a cash bar, tuck shop and take away meals are
available)
19

REGATTAS
• Buffalo Heads Regatta – (Mayors Plate) 33° 1'30.53"S 27°53'26.03"E
• Hosted by Selborne and Clarendon, this is a one day regatta that normally falls on the
last Saturday of October, but will, this year, be our first.
• The entire club departs and returns on the same day.
• Crews race a number of long distance heads races with the Mayors Plate being the
premier event in Fours.
Eastern Cape Championships
Buffalo and Selborne Sprints Regatta
• The Buffalo Regatta began in 1881 and has been held every year since then except for
some interruptions during the war years. Two large silver trophies, valued at R1m and
R1.5m respectively, are competed for : the Silver Sculls (Men’s sculls) and the Grand
Challenge (Men’s coxless fours). The Grand Challenge Trophy stands 1.2 m tall.
• Selborne Sprints are raced over 500m, the Buffalo regatta over the normal 2000m. The
course is run downstream and is affected by tides, currents and wind.
• Parents’ Function :
• There is normally a parents' dinner on the Friday evening of the Buffalo Regatta : this is
just a social event and a good time to meet new parents and catch up on SACRC
activities. In the past this function has been held at the Blue Lagoon Hotel or the Old
Selbornians Club : details will be emailed to parents from the chairman closer to the
time.
20

REGATTAS
• ZRC / Grey Regatta 33°50'13.95"S 25°34'11.29"E
• Held in January on the Zwartkops River outside Port Elizabeth. The entire club
departs and returns on the same day.
• Directions
• From Port Elizabeth
• Follow the signs to Grahamstown until you get the offramp to Swartkops. Turn left
at the first stop on the bridge and *** right at the first traffic light. Take a left turn
at the very next traffic light into the road to Perseverence. You will pass a Salt
Works on your left. You will come to a right turn to Redhouse. Drive into Redhouse,
the road will turn to the right and then left over the railway track. Go left and follow
the road keeping right until the road turns right onto the river front.
• From Grahamstown
• Take the Swartkops offramp. This is the first turnoff once you have crossed the
Swartkops River. Turn right at the Stop and then follow instructions ***
• Knysna Regatta 34° 2'47.88"S 23° 0'0.57"E
• This has now become a two day regatta, normally either the second last or last
weekend of October. It is held on the western side of the lagoon in Belvedere
Village.
• Normally only the 1 st Eight and Under 16 Eight participate. The crews race sprints
over 1 000 meters on the Saturday and the 1 st Eight races a heads race early on the
Sunday morning. The team departs on the Friday morning and returns on the
Sunday evening.
• From George (N2)
• Turn left at the Belvedere sign, (last turn off before the bridge over the Knysna river.
***Turn right immediately under the bridge. Turn left into Belvedere and follow
sign to Belvedere Manor. The venue is below the Hotel on the lawns in front of the
lagoon.
• From Port Elizabeth
• Drive through Knysna, along the lagoon. Drive over the Knysna River bridge and
turn right immediately. Follow instructions above ***
• Parents usually have a get together on the Saturday night prior to the Sunday 21
Heads Race.

REGATTAS
• Old Mutual Schools Boatrace 33°35'40.81"S 26°53'24.97"E
• Hosted by SAC, this event is held in Port Alfred on the Kowie River on the Saturday
and Sunday of the first weekend in December. This is an event for 1 st Eights only (1 st
Quads for girls).
• Modeled on the Oxford / Cambridge boat race, crews race a heads race over 6km
(4km for Girls). Crews then race finals on the Sunday in a one on one format based
on times attained, from the day before. (1 st vs 2 nd in the “A” Final, 3 rd vs 4 th in the
“B” Final)
January Rowing Camp
• This camp is normally held in the week prior to the start of school in January and
involves the entire club as well as new boys who would like to attend, regardless of
whether they are going to do rowing as a summer sport or not. The 2012 camp will
take place at St Andrew’s College to take advantage of our on campus training
facilities as well as the beautiful water which we currently have at Settler’s Dam. It
is normally six days in duration and boys are either collected from the airport, or
they can be dropped off in Grahamstown.
• On the Saturday night there is usually a function for parents and the boys.
• This camp is a great opportunity for new boys to make friends with their peers and
meet some of the older boys at the school. They learn a new skill which they can
use as their “New skill learned” in the Bronze Section of the President’s Award
Program which many boys will get involved in once school starts. Most of all they
can make an informed decision about which summer sport to choose, something
that can become a life changing experience.
22

REGATTAS
• SA Champs 25°37'21.71"S 28°20'59.30"E
• This regatta normally coincides with half term which means that the boys don’t
have to be away for an extra long weekend and so don’t miss even more school.
The boys normally fly up on the Wednesday and back to Grahamstown on Monday.
• The 1 st VIII has a different program. This crew trains at altitude – either in Gauteng
or at Hogsback – for the week prior to SA Champs. They may fly separately and they
may also stay in different accommodation from the rest of the club . This varies
from year to year.
• The regatta usually takes place at Roodeplaat Dam, North East of Pretoria . The
event starts on Friday with the heats and finals of all sculls and pairs. Saturday and
Sunday usually have a mix of boat classes culminating in the 1 st Eights final which
is the last event of the championships
• All boys stay together in their crews at the accommodation under the supervision
of their coaches and supporting teachers and they usually eat breakfast and supper
there.
• Entrance tickets for SA Champs will be on sale at the Buffalo Regatta – from the
chairman ; otherwise they may be bought at the dam – there is usually a small
discount for pre-purchased tickets. There are a lot of B&B’s and self catering
accommodation units available in the area. A list of all the options , with contact
details is available at www.dinokeng.net
• Accommodation in the Northern suburbs of Pretoria has also proven to be suitable
for quick access to the N1. These areas include Lynwood, Lynwood Glen, Lynwood
Ridge, Silverton, Murrayfield, Arcadia and Hatfield.
• Each school is allocated a ‘spot’ at the regatta and Judy and Greg Hunter erect the
SACRC gazebos on the SAC spot, so look out for it and join the party ! It’s a festive
occasion : there is food and drink on sale but you may wish to bring your own
cooler box.
23

REGATTAS
• Sleepouts are not allowed during regattas, i.e. if the regatta is held over a few days,
boys must sleep with the rest of the crew until the completion of the regatta. Boys
may go out for meals with their parents only if they have permission from their
coach.
• Parents may take their boys on Sunday evening after the prize giving and after all
the boats have been loaded and are ready for departure. If it is half term the boys
may decide not to travel back with the rest of the rowing club and may arrange
their return flights themselves : this must be agreed with and communicated to the
Rowing MIC and the boy’s coach.
24

ROWERS’ DRESS
Training Dress
January Camp
• January Camp is the only time that boys may wear civvies, primarily because many
new boys do not have school rowing kit yet, and some may not continue rowing
either.
• Training must, however be done in clothing that is both appropriate for sporting
activity and acceptable considering that the boys are in the public eye.
• Boys should ensure they have a haircut BEFORE they arrive on camp, as the club
will not tolerate hairstyles that are not neat or suitable. Once again this is because
we will be training in the public eye.
Normal Afternoon Training
• Boys should wear SACRC tri-suits only with a white SAC t-shirt whilst training.
• Boys must also commute to training in their school tracksuits, unless it is hot and
they have permission from the Director of Rowing or Supporting Teacher or coach,
in which case they may wear their white SAC t shirts, SAC Rowing Club golf shirt and
SAC shorts.
Regatta Dress
• When boys travel to regattas, they must wear the same dress : either all tracksuits
or all in chinos etc : this will be communicated by the Director of Rowing.
• At regattas boys must wear appropriate sports uniform. Civvies may be worn only
when away from the regatta and when not travelling as a team / school.
• Tri-Suits:
• The first team has a different tri-suit from the rest of the club.
• The 2 nd VIII wears the same tri suit as the rest of the club with a big college badge
on the chest.
• The rest of the club rows in the official SACRC tri-suit.
25

ROWERS DRESS
1 st Eight privileges :
• Training- A 1 st Eight rower may wear any tri-suit, but it must be both respectable
and in a respectable condition. They may also wear any training shirt, as long as it is
either plain blue, white, black or red.
• The 1 st Eight requires more clothing than any other team, both for training (they
train more than any other crew) and wearing before and during regattas.
• SAC 1 st Team tracksuit – (same as other sports’1 st team tracksuit)
• White shorts with light blue and navy stripes down the one side, the rowing badge
on the other side, and the sponsor on the left back.
• Light blue vest [Mullins house colour] with rowing badge on the chest screen
printed in navy.[training]
• Old school shirt: grandpa vest : White t-shirt with buttons down front done in light
blue and navy, also the same light blue and navy trimmings around neck and arms
and rowing club badge on left breast.
• Old Khaki t-shirts (plain white short-sleeved t-shirt from Cape Union Mart) with
rowing club badge (SAC badge with crossed oars) and “ST ANDREW”S COLLEGE”
across the top of the badge and “1 st VIII” underneath the badge.
• Short sleeve white utility shirt – tight fitting.
• Long sleeve white utility shirt – tight fitting
• Sleeveless wind breaker / sports jacket.
• Tog bag same as rugby team
• Cap
• The 1 st Eight kit may be sponsored ; the sponsor’s logo will then be embroidered on
the back of the neck and on the tog bag.
Traditions
• At SA Champs and Boat race the 1 st VIII is piped onto the water, and off if they win
(sometimes even if they just do jolly well) ; the piper plays “Highland Cathedral”.
• Also at SA Champs the 1 st VIII, IV and / or pair receive any awards they might have
won dressed in kilts, shirts, school tie and blazers, long socks and black shoes. It is
up to the boys, coach and parents of the 1 st VIII to make sure that the boys have
kilts and that a piper is available. (See Appendix III for Piper Contacts).
• The boys in the 1 st VIII traditionally shave their heads for SA Champs.
• If a 1 st team (VIII, IV, pair) wins a race they may carry their oars from the winner’s
jetty held vertically.
26

ROWERS’ CODE OF CONDUCT
As a member of the St Andrew’s College Rowing Club I shall, at all times, endeavour to:
• Uphold the name of St Andrew’s College.
• Commit to my crew for a full season ie October to March so as to not let my team
down half way through a season.
• Set the benchmark for sportsmanship, both on and off the water.
• Follow instructions given by coaches, captains and rowers my senior, to the best of
my ability.
• Show consideration and respect to opponents, team mates, umpires and
spectators.
• Show consideration and respect to fellow club members especially those my senior.
• Remember that I am rowing as part of a team and put the interests of my fellow
rowers and my school before self-glorification.
• Be loyal to the team and not let my team mates down by being absent from
practices and regattas without a legitimate excuse.
• Be punctual for practices and regattas.
• Not leave a regatta venue without having permission from the Captain or Vice
Captain to do so, whether during or after a regatta. If they are not available I will
ask my coach or the Rowing MIC for permission to leave.
• Excuse myself in person, from my coach or the Rowing MIC, as soon / early as
possible, when I am ill or injured.
• Dress correctly for regattas or for travel thereto. ( see ROWERS’ DRESS)
• Thank all officials, coaches, teachers and parents after regattas, coaching sessions
and tours.
• Treat all rowing equipment in my use with the utmost care and respect.
• Clean and pack away ( in the correct place) any equipment my crew or I may have
used.
• Report any damage that my crew or I, may do to any equipment or object whilst on
the water, or in taking the equipment to or from the water, whether it belongs to
SAC Rowing Club or not.
• Consider the safety of my crew, other crews or other people when on the water or
anywhere within a regatta venue.
SIGNED:
DATE:
27

UNDERSTANDING A REGATTA PROGRAM
A B C D E F
• A - The number of the Event
• B - JM or MJnr or B for boys
• B - JW or W Jnr or G for girls
• B - This is followed by the age group:
• B - Either U14, U15, U16 or 1 st (OP or U19) age groups.
• B - A, B, C or D is the category division. For the Open / U19 age group the divisions
would be listed as 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd etc.
• B - Boat Class
• B - 1, 2, 4 or 8 indicates the number of rowers / boat size participating in the
event.
• B - X - is for Sculling Events (2 oars per boy)
• B - Mainly done in the U14 and U15 age groups.
• B - 1x is a single scull One boy with 2 oars
• B - 2x is a double scull Two boys with 2 oars
• B - 4x is a quad Four boys with 2 oars
• B - 8x is an octuple Eight boys with 2 oars
• B - + or - is for Sweep Oar Events (1 oar per boy)
• B - Only U16 and Open age groups
• B - 2- is a Pair Two boys with 1 oar each
• B - 4+ is a Four Four boys with 1 oar each
• B - 8+ is an Eight Eight boys with 1 oar each
• B - The “+”or “-” describes the presence or absence of a coxswain in the boat.
• B - 4+ is a Coxed Four, 4- is a Coxless four
• C - Describes the event as either H = heat, S = semi-final or F = final
• D - Race Starting Time
• E - The Race distances of 500m, 1 000m or 2 000m
• F - The school / club with the name of the stroke underneath. 28

THE SPORT OF ROWING
• Rowing is not just a sport, its a discipline. Just like flyfishermen spend their whole
lives perfecting the cast, so the rower continually strives for that perfect stroke, the
stroke which leaves the boat perfectly balanced, with a maximum possible speed for
his effort.
• But then there’s another dynamic in that the rower is often not alone. There is a crew
of rowers, all working together, synergising their efforts to make the boat go faster.
• A crew of individuals who may be very different in terms of personality, motivation,
emotion, skill and experience and yet they have a common goal that they all must
achieve through commitment, perseverance and most importantly mutual tolerance
and respect for each other.
• Some say that “a crew is only as good as it’s weakest rower” and so the stronger
rowers must focus on improving their team mates abilities, as this may prove more
important than just focusing on their own. Encouraging, motivating through positive
re-inforcement, whilst still having attention to detail, will be some of the challenges
that they face, should they wish to achieve. And that weakest rower will know that he
cannot give up, and let down his team mates who have trained as hard, if not harder
than himself. Persevere, never give up!
• As a rower, you are going to learn the hard way. Its physically demanding , to say the
least. Only cross country skiing can compete with rowing in terms of the energy to
time exercised. In the last 500 meters of a race you are going to be asking yourself the
question: Why do I do this?..... It’s excruciating! All the energy is gone. The muscles
are burning. The body is well into oxygen debt...... You could easily just throw in the
towel but you cannot. You must persevere! Your crew is depending on your
performance. One “soft” stroke could be the difference on the line!
• And that is why you do this! To endure! To learn that every tough challenge has a
finish line, and you need to cross that line, to realise your potential as both an
individual and as a crew. The pain will go away, but knowing you did not do your best
lasts a lot longer!
• So its not just about winning and beating other people. Its about beating yourself. Its
about overcoming your doubts through dogged determination , self -belief and belief
in your crew.
• And this takes time, time in the boat, time on the ergo, time in the gym and even just
time communicating and bonding with your team mates. And the training on the
water must be seen as a blessing. How many sports are there which present such
dynamics, within such beautiful surroundings, in any weather conditions, day after
day, all year round?
• Your life will never be the same . You will become haunted by water. You will come
across stretches of water that will call on you to explore and conquer. Not only the
water, not even your technique but more likely yourself! The sound of your heart
drumming in your head, to the rythym of each and every stroke as the water boils
off the boats bow.
29 29

THE SPORT OF ROWING
• Rowing goes back some 2 or so centuries, to times when man discovered that an
oar could be more effective when worked against a fulcrum. For the first time boats
started “ going backwards”. Most of the rowing was done under duress in moving
large “warships” in the midst of battle.
• The first known competitive regatta was held in Venice, Italy, in 1315. It was initially
popular in the Mediterranean, but soon spread throughout Europe.
• The first regatta in Britain was held at Gravesend Town in 1698. Throughout the
next century boats grew from pairs to fours , sixes and eventually eights, which
were first raced in London in 1778.
• Arguably the most famous race for eights is the Oxford vs Cambridge Boatrace
which first took place in 1829 and continues annually to this day, with the challenge
always taking place on the Thames, in London on the first Sunday in April. Here the
crews have a head to head battle over a course distance of 6,3km.
• The biggest club regatta in the world is undoubtedly the Henley Royal Regatta,
which takes place in Henley on Thames, England, annually, in the first week of July.
It has been in existence since 1839 and continues to attract crews from all
continents.
• FISA ( Federatione Internationale societe d’Aviron) is the international rowing body
which was first established in 1892, four years prior to rowing’s first appearance at
the Olympic Games which took place in Athens, Greece, in 1896 (men only, with
women only admitted at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.
• Competitive rowing in South Africa dates back to 1861 when a challenge between
The South African Rowing Club and Union Rowing Club took place in 6 oared boats
over a distance of 4 and a quarter miles in the Western Cape.
• Alfred Rowing Club, now located at Zeekoeivlei, Cape Town, is not only the oldest
Rowing club in South Africa, it is indeed, the oldest surviving sporting club as well.
• The Buffalo Grand Challenge Race, for Coxless Fours, held at the Buffalo Regatta in
East London in February, is South Africa’s oldest race, first rowed in 1888. It is the
most prestigious race for senior rowers in South Africa with a trophy which is
reputed as being one of the biggest and most valuable silver trophies in the world.
• South Africa has a strong history of international rowing, done under our national
federation ROWSA ( Rowing South Africa). Our first Olympic oarsman was Henry De
Kock, who competed at the 1928 Olympics. Our most successful crew is the
combination of Donovan Cech and Ramon Di Clemente, who won a Bronze medal at
the Athens Olympics in 2004 in the pairs event.
30 30

ROWING WEBSITES
• www.standrewsrowing.co.za
• Our very own web site. Look for the latest pics, news and info here.
• www.regatta.co.za
• Regatta dates, draws and results are available from this website.
• www.focussportsphotography.com
• You will find photos of some of the regattas that SAC participates in, such as
Schools Boatrace and SA Champs on this site.
• www.rowsa.co.za
• SA National Rowing Website for local rowing news and notices.
• www.worldrowing.com
• International Federation rowing website, containing international regatta notices,
results, athlete profiles etc.
• www.hrr.co.uk
• Henley Royal Regatta Website
31

INFORMATION FOR THE BOYS
• With a little assistance from parents, rowers need to learn to take responsibility for
both their team and themselves.
Packing a bag for a One Day Regatta
• Sunblock,
• Cap,
• 2 tri-suits,
• 2 SAC –T- shirts or Rowing Club Golf Shirts,
• 2 pairs of white socks,
• slops,
• SAC tracksuits or SAC Jacket,
• Plastic bag for wet kit,
• a water bottle (with water or energy drink)
• a pillow
• A towel and shower gel
• Rowing tools ( a #10 and #13 spanner, headlight)
On Hot Sunny Days
• Stay out of the sun for as long as possible
• Drink cold fluids as often as possible, staying hydrated.
• Wear a cap
• Wear sunglasses
On Cold, Rainy Days
• Stay warm, paying particular attention to warming up properly before your first race.
• Stay as dry as possible, change after your race if you are wet or cold.
Avoid Disappointment
• Get together as a crew one hour before your race.
• Check your boat thoroughly.
• Ensure your coxswain (if you have one) has weighed in and your bow number is on
your boat.
• Ensure the entire crew is wearing the same kit.
• Get on the water timeously, having been prepared for any delays.
• Have water with you.
• Have the time on you so you arrive at the start before your Race Start time!
32

For Emergencies
INFORMATION FOR THE BOYS
• All boys in the same age group must store the following cell phone numbers in their
phones:
1. Everyone in their age group and / or team.
2. Their coach
3. The Director of Rowing and:
4. Any teacher managing their age group.
What to eat at regattas
BIG NO’s –
• No sweets, fizzy drinks, dairy products or acidic foods.
• Eating junk food prior to a regatta can be a problem as these foods are usually high
in sugar and low in carbohydrates.
• Eating out can be a problem. Boys pick up gastrointestinal bugs from public places
and this can be disastrous for any crew. If you do, follow strict hygiene, wash hands
regularly with a suitable hand sanitiser.
• For the same reasons as above, do not drink tap water. Take enough water with you
to regattas.
• Do not share the same water bottles, where you can pick up other peoples germs.
• Do not eat a big meal within 3 hours of a race!
BIG YES’s –
• Bottled still water, Energade and Powerade.
• Bread rolls with chicken / tuna.
• Bananas
• Energy bars
33

INFORMATION FOR THE BOYS
TAKING SUPPLEMENTS
The Golden Rule:
• Never take a supplement without notifying your coach.
• The reason for this is simple, they can contain banned or restricted substances,
prohibited under Anti Doping rules.
• Even beyond the possibility of this, it is often a bad idea to try new supplements
before competition, without having tried them before. They may not sit well in your
stomach under the stresses of competition and exertion, which may result in
vomiting or nausea before or after competition.
• This will cost a rower more than any benefit that could possibly have been derived
from taking the supplement in the first place, due to dehydration which would
result from loss of fluids.
• It seems only logical that if you eat well, and get adequate rest, you do not need
any supplements. Most supplements are a waste of money, and invariably end up
as money literally going down the toilet!
• If you are training excessively, and life is very busy, a multivitamin supplement
would generally suffice, along with a protein supplement, such as whey powder, to
ensure your muscles are getting enough protein.
• Consult a dietician or your coach if you think you need to go beyond this.
34

ROWING AND ACADEMICS
Approach your academics in a practical way.
• Right from the beginning of term, inform all your teachers about the dates you will
be away from school for rowing. For most boys this will be the Thursday and Friday
of the Buffalo Regatta. This will help teachers to plan their lessons accordingly and
hopefully not schedule any tests around this regatta weekend.
• Ask for details of any written assignments due over this period so that you can work
on, complete and hand them in well in advance of the Buffalo Regatta.
• Buffalo Regatta is only 1 ½ weeks before half term and the parent / teachers
meeting when your teacher will need marks for your term orders. Make sure that
by the time Buffalo comes along, the pressure for term order points is “off” and not
“on”. Doing it that way, you will ensure that your term order will be a true reflection
of your academic effort and ability.
• During the last lesson (for each subject) before you leave for Buffalo, you need to
ask your teacher what work they want you to do before Monday. Don’t rely on
classmates to tell you on the Sunday evening!
Feeling tired in class
• Some teams train really hard from time to time, having sessions before school in
the early morning and again in the afternoon. You might find yourself feeling tired,
weak or even just hungry during the day. When you feel like this and you can’t focus
or concentrate in class, despite eating all your food at breakfast and taking enough
vitamins, (and drinking enough water!) then perhaps you need to go to the SAN
where one of the Sisters can assist you in sourcing a suitable food / vitamin
supplement.
How do you get the best possible academic results whilst committing fully to rowing?
• Andrew Craig, Kieran Robertson, Brian Malcomess, Finn McQuaid, Craig Henderson
, Daniel Still and many other past 1 st 8 rowers did it brilliantly, getting 6,5 and 4 A’s
in matric! What do they say is the key?
• Finn McQuaid and Brian Malcomess (2004) – “ Rowing at St Andrew’s College offers
a myriad of opportunities to make close friends and explore different places. One
of the nicest aspects of rowing, especially at a boarding school, is the fact that it
allows (and actually requires) boys to get away from the daily stresses of school
life.”
35

ROWING AND ACADEMICS
• “Rowing provides boys with superior fitness and this goes a long way to upholding
the old adage that a healthy body promotes a healthy mind, as the self discipline
required by rowers often translates into their studies.”
• “ In order to succeed in the sport of rowing you require (and thus learn) a certain
level of commitment, perseverance and self- discipline, not to mention the social
skills required to successfully interact in what becomes a very close- knit team
environment.”
• “ The lessons learnt from rowing carry through in every aspect of College life. The
only real advice which can be offered to young oarsmen is that if you want to
succeed and enjoy rowing you must commit to it whole heartedly. No one said this
sport of ours was easy, but always remember: everything you give to rowing will be
returned to you ten-fold.”
• Andrew Craig (2001)
• “ Rowing has long had a reputation as a sport that affects the academic success of
school pupils. It is certainly true that rowing is time consuming, although this does
not have to affect your school work. Many hours of training and travelling are
required to compete at the top level. However, there is still more than enough time
in any pupils day to fit in studies.”
• “All that is required is good time management – a skill that boys should acquire
sooner rather than later in their College careers.”
• “ A serious oarsman will develop a very disciplined approach to life – disciplined in
training and also in anything else in which he intends to succeed. This strong ethic
is easily applied to school work and has resulted in many successful academics from
the rowing club. Just looking back over the past eight years, there has been at least
one, and often more, “A” aggregates achieved by matric candidates from the 1 st
Eight.”
• Set yourself clearly formulated goals, both long term goals as well as short term
goals.
36 36

ANTI-DOPING POLICY
• St Andrew’s College is committed to creating a school ethos of zero tolerance to any
use of Substances banned under Anti Doping Rules. The school now reserves the
right to test or search any boy or items in his possession for doping.
• Anti-Doping testing is very rare at a junior rowing level, in particular at a school club
level. Most testing would probably occur at a National Championship and it is likely
to be low key and candidates are likely to be selected on a totally random basis.
• Please be aware that if your son is on ANY CHRONIC MEDICATION, you / he should
notify the crew coach and / or the Rowing MIC , so that the school can take
appropriate steps where necessary, to notify Rowing South Africa, so that a
Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) form may be completed, and lodged, which
indemnifies your son from punishment for that particular drug, should it be on any
banned substance listing.
• Even boys with Asthma must submit TUE forms.
• Mrs. Scheepers at the SAC SAN can assist in the sourcing and filling in of the TUE
forms
• Anti Doping Agencies are there to PROTECT your rights as a rower.
• At the end of the day they should be welcomed with open arms, as they ensure
that competitions are fair, so never feel that they are an inconvenience.
• The procedure for a basic urine test under anti doping protocol is simple, but must
be followed and applied under strict conditions and protocol, if the results of such
testing are to be valid.
• All rowers should be aware of their rights under such testing, but these should be
made very clear to you by the officer testing you.
• These are a few pointers of what to expect:
1) Once you present yourself to the testing officer and start the test, you may not
leave until the test is completed.
2) You are entitled to have someone, be it your coach, friend, parent or other
accompany you for the duration of the test.
• If you fail to present yourself to a testing officer, after having been notified to do so,
you could possibly be deemed to have failed such a drug test.
37

MEALS
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
• Parents are often involved, at some stage, in preparing meals, be it lunch or supper,
for rowers. The important thing to remember is that rowers need a balance of
carbohydrates, protein and even fat, which is one of the best energy sources.
• There are a few golden rules:
1. Rowers should avoid dairy products within 3 hours of racing.
2. Rowers should avoid too much beef / meat as it is difficult to digest.
3. Carbohydrates like potato and rice are even better than pasta( a refined
carbohydrate.)
• The following is a list of possible meals that could be prepared, that would give the
boys what they need to perform!
• Supper
1. Chicken A La King – Chicken and rice, with any veggies (eg broccoli / butternut.
2. Cottage /Shepherd’s Pie – Mince, mashed potato, with any veggies.
3. Roast Chicken with rice / potato, with any veggies.
4. Beef Stroganoff – Beef, mushroom, cream and rice, with any veggies.
5. Lasagne – Beef or chicken, with veggies
LAUNDRY
• It is often a lifesaver for the boys, particularly on tour, to get their laundry done, as kit
so often gets reused towards the end of a tour, which can not only look shabby, but is
also not very hygienic. So if you are able to do some laundry for them, it will help.
FIRST AID
• Boys often need plaster (the plaster that is purchased in rolls) to protect their hands
from blisters. The trick to avoid blisters is for the boys to tape their hands and fingers
from day 1 of camp. If you leave hands unprotected for even one day, the blisters will
arrive!
REGATTA OFFICIAL ASSISTANCE
• The Eastern Cape is desperate for parents to become involved in assisting with the
running of our local regattas. The Eastern Cape Rowing Association has requested
that each school provides at least one person who is prepared to do duty at a regatta,
once a year. It is very simple to qualify as a local official and is both an enjoyable and
social experience.
• Please contact the Director of Rowing if you are interested. 38

APPENDIX I
Terms of Reference of the Parents’ Support Group of the St Andrew’s College Rowing Club
Introduction :
The primary role of the parents’ support group is fund raising for equipment and other needs of the club. They may
also help, at the request of the Rowing MIC or the coaches, at regattas, camps etc. Whilst all parents are required to
participate in these support activities, a committee is formed to lead and co-ordinate these activities and to align and
communicate with the master-in-charge of rowing, the director of sport, the headmaster and the rowing club parents.
Role and Focus of Parents’ Support Group :
Fund raising for equipment and other identified needs
In support of this to conduct events and activities, with the necessary communication and within school policy and
guidelines
To help the Rowing MIC, when requested
The Committee :
The committee will consist of a chairperson and several other members representative of the U14, U15, U16 and Open
age groups : it is desirable to have representation from each of the 3 main provinces from which the majority of boys
come, in order to facilitate fund raising.
The tenure of the chairman and the committee members is one year but they may serve for more than 1 year if
appropriate e.g. if no other parents make themselves available
The committee will be ‘reformed’ each year, after SA Champs and before the beginning of the new season in October.
A Chairman will be elected at that meeting. (Traditionally the Chairman has been a parent of the incoming captain.)
The committee will formally meet 4 times a year when it is desirable for all committee members or a ‘proxy’ to be
available e.g. k-day weekend, (June), Balloon week (October), new boys rowing camp (January), SA champs (March).
Accounts and Funds Management :
All funds raised by and on behalf of the Rowing Parents Support Group will be managed by the Finance Section of St
Andrew’s College. All monies will be deposited into the St Andrew’s College bank account and records of all
transactions will be kept within the range of accounts held by the Finance Section. These accounts are audited on an
annual basis. All payments from this account will need to be authorised by a member of the Parents Support Group
and would be subject to the normal authorisation required by the Finance Section. Payment requests should, wherever
possible, be accompanied by supporting documentation. Income and expenditure statements for this account will be
available on request.
Committee’s roles and responsibilities :
The Chairman :
Formal communication with the Rowing MIC, Director of Sport or the Headmaster
Management of the funds
Calling and chairing of meetings, setting of agendas and report back to parents
Developing a fundraising strategy and operational plans (with help of the committee and other interested parents)
consultation with the master-in-charge of rowing on the short and long term equipment needs of the club
Committee members :
Lead and co-ordinate fund raising activities in each of the provinces working with interested parents
One member will assist the chairman with communication
One member, working with the master-in-charge of rowing and the coaches, will provide marketing and public
relations support to profile the club.
39

APPENDIX III
Pipers
Giles Maynard : OA rower and piper currently based in Johannesburg ; mother Megan
phone : 083 4574816 / 011 6463672
Roy Blingham, Head of SA Pipers : 083 6771810 / 011 467501
Andrew De Bloq – SAC Admin Dept may have contact number
40