Rowing

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

St Catherine’s School’s First VIII Rowing Crew are now the best Schoolgirl 8+ in the world after taking out the Prince Philip Challenge Trophy at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta in the UK.

The 2022 St Catherine’s School Rowing season will go down in history as the School’s most successful season ever, with St Catherine’s First VIII Crew (MMXXI) now reigning international champions, Australian Champions, and back-to-back Head of Schoolgirls Champions.

The Henley Royal Regatta is one of the most prestigious and historic rowing events on the world rowing calendar. After delivering impressive races throughout their Heats and Semi Finals, the MMXXI Crew competed against the ‘best of the best’ from the USA – the Winter Park Crew, Florida in the Final.

The St Catherine’s Crew now join a distinguished history of Australian rowing crews who have successfully competed on the world stage and won at the Henley Royal Rowing Regatta since 1912.

The Crew raced with great determination and courage from the very first race. The first day of racing saw the MMXXI take on St Paul’s Girls’ School, scoring a dominant victory by four lengths, the next round of racing was against Hinksey Sculling School, an Oxford based Rowing Club, where the MMXXI led from start to finish with a three-quarter length margin at the finish line. The Semi-Final was set to be one of the toughest races of the Regatta, however, the MMXXI rose to the challenge. The first 1000m was bow ball to bow ball before the St Catherine’s Crew made their move and stormed home by two lengths to win over the UK School Crew, Surbiton High School.

To make a Final at the Henley Royal Regatta is an incredible achievement in itself, however the MMXXI was determined to ensure that their last race together would be the best. The Crew took the lead early blasting out of the start, although it remained close through the middle of the race, the MMXXI had control finishing with an epic win to cross the line two-thirds of a length in front of the USA Winter Park Crew.

St Catherine’s MMXXI delighted their coaches, Brigette Carlile and John Saunders, support crew and immensely proud parents and past students who had travelled to Henley, as well as their many friends, teachers and St Catherine’s students across the Year levels supporting online from Melbourne.

The key to their success was best concluded after the race by Stroke Seat and Captain of Boats, Bronte Cullen, “We just tried to relax as much as possible, stay focused and trust the process. We have the most amazing group of girls and just act as one.”

Much of the Crew’s pre-season training was conducted via online sessions in their own homes throughout Melbourne’s COVID lockdowns. The results throughout their 2021/22 season are testament to the girls’ tenacious approach to training, all whilst balancing their VCE study commitments, and their extraordinary determination and grit.

As a School we congratulate these amazing female athletes and look forward to following their successes in the future. The St Catherine’s Rowing Program may be small, but it certainly is mighty, including a stellar crew now recognised as the best Schoolgirl 8+ in the world. The MMXXI is made up of four Year 12 students and five Year 11 students. The Crew worked hard to achieve what they have this season and their victory at the Henley Royal Regatta was well deserved. The St Catherine’s First VIII 2022: Cox: Summer Balla-Kellett Stroke: Bronte Cullen Seven: Sienna Darcy Six: Sarah Marriott Five: Chloe Nevins Four: Zara Bongiorno Three: Lucy Green Two: Jemima Wilcox Bow: Zara Peele Coaches: John Saunders & Brigette Carlile