It was a cold and gusty start to this year’s State Rowing Championships, but that didn’t take away from the energy and enthusiasm of the All Schools athletes participating in the event.
The Championships brought around 450 young athletes from schools and rowing clubs across WA to Champion Lakes on 8 August, along with families and supporters, for a fantastic day of competition and school spirit.
The Mixed Year 9 Coxed Quad kicked off the day, with Shenton College 1 taking out the 500m event in a time of 1:50.02. In the Open Singles, Swan River’s Banjo Morris-Luck set a new All Schools record with a time of 3:29.95, while Fremantle’s Briar Froud claimed victory in the girls’ event.
There was a delay to racing as poor weather rolled through, but with intermittent patches of blue sky there was still hope that all events would be completed. The Marketplace, located inside the Rowing WA building, ensured there was still plenty happening off the water, with stalls from event sponsor City of Armadale, The Regatta Shop, Study & Play USA, the West Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) and Rowing WA. WAIS athlete testing activities were particularly popular, giving athletes the chance to put their skills to the test while waiting for racing to resume. Athletes then battled the cold and wet conditions in pursuit of State Championship titles.
Guildford Grammar dominated the Girls Year 10 events, with Emma Jarvis winning gold in the Single Scull and Double Scull alongside partner Adia Plaisted. Having won the Girls Year 10 Coxed Eight at every regatta throughout the season, Guildford entered the event as favourites. However, the West Australian Rowing Club and Mercedes College composite crew produced an upset, holding a half boat length advantage over the Guildford crew to claim the state title.
John XXIII College secured minor medals in both the Mixed Year 9 Coxed Quad and Boys Year 9 Coxed Quad and enjoyed a strong regatta overall, finishing second in the Champion School standings. All Saints’ College collected bronze medals in the Girls and Boys Open Double Sculls and the Boys Year 9 Single Scull, while Ophelia Goh claimed silver in the Girls Year 10 Single Scull.
Shenton College finished State Championships with 4.75 gold medals, including victories in the Girls Year 9 Single Scull through Ada Potter, the Mixed Open Coxed Quad featuring UWA Boat Club’s Dylan Capewell, and the Boys Year 10 Coxed Eight.
The Girls Open Coxed Eight, contested over 1500m, was won convincingly by the Shenton College crew, who remained undefeated throughout the season. They claimed the State title and set a new All Schools record of 5:12.40.
The Boys Open Coxed Eight was won by Swan River Rowing Club in another All Schools record time of 4:29.76. The crew emerged as a genuine contender after All Schools #3, having closed the gap on the Shenton College crew that had won at the previous regattas.
The Champion School Trophy is awarded based on school placings, irrespective of club results. First awarded in 2014 and won by All Saints’ College, the trophy has since been claimed by John XXIII College, Guildford Grammar and Shenton College. The 2026 standings featured a particularly close contest between second and third place.
The results were Shenton College finishing with 823 points, John XXIII College with 553 points and Guildford Grammar with 532 points.
City of Armadale Mayor Ruth Butterfield joined the medal presentations in the afternoon.
