St Benedicts College achieves milestone award

Sporting stars were honoured at this year’s South African Sports Awards on November 11 when St Benedict’s College became one of those stars among pro-athletes such as Caster Semenya and Chad le Clos.

St Benedict’s College’s rowing team walked away with the School Sports Team of the Year Award.

The South African Sports Awards were held in Bloemfontein where St Benedict’s principal David Jeffrey, rowing coach Darryn Roff and rowing captain Ryan Carolin were all in attendance.

“As we celebrate being recognised as the School Sports Team of the Year, we acknowledge the contributions made by the boys, coaches, parents and administrators over the last 30 years that have made our 25 year run as South African Rowing Champions possible,” said Chantelle Burgin, head of marketing at St Benedict’s College.

The Bennies rowing team consists of u-14, u-15, u-16 and u-19s with a total of 115 rowers.

Roff said the senior rowers train at Roodeplaat four times a week, with a few ergo gym sessions in between.

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The juniors train at Victoria Lake Club three to four times a week.

“All rowers follow a long-term athlete development programme from the first day they arrive at our rowing club. Training focuses on the process rather than results. Hard work is the fundamental principle in our rowing programme,” said Roff.

Roff teaches the young rowers to work hard and to achieve their goals but to always have fun during the process.

He said that St Benedict’s rowing places emphasis on three primary factors in rowing; high performance, active participation and enjoyment.

“Care is always taken to ensure that all oarsmen in every age group, have well-maintained equipment, receive wholesome coaching, are enriched through their personal healthy and competitive progression plan,” said Roff.

He said the St Benedict’s rowing philosophy differs from that of other rowing schools where concentration is either on sculling and small boats or only on sweep-oar and eights.

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“St Benedict’s takes pride on concentrating on both. Our history proves that we have chosen the right path. The more we have stressed the importance of individual sculling in our junior age groups, the stronger our senior rowing has become,” said Roff.

St Benedict’s holds two compulsory camps each year for all rowers. Although the camps are taken very seriously, they are also fun and enriching for the rowers.

“The enjoyment of rowing is not restricted to rowers. Rowing is unique in that it provides quality family time for rowers and their families.

“At regattas, parents have the opportunity to meet other parents, as they may share a common interest and thus have the opportunity to form lifelong friendships and develop a greater sense of community in St Benedict’s,” said Roff.

He said that technique is of crucial importance in all boats, while fitness and physical development play an even greater role in succeeding in the sport.

“It is important for rowers to use the winter season to prepare themselves for the upcoming rowing season while still remaining actively involved in the winter sports programme,” said Roff.