John XXIII Rowing Club 

Dear Rowing Families

As you have no doubt read, the decision has been made to cancel the South West Head of the River due to the adverse weather we are set to experience and the danger posed by this to rowers, parents, coaches and the transportation of our fleet to and from Bunbury. While this is disappointing for all rowers, their preparation over the last few weeks has been beneficial for their progress, working together as combinations and learning how to do starts and race pieces for the new rowers. We will take this set back and use it to our advantage in the preparation for the IGSSA Girls regattas, with the first regatta at the end of Week 2. Our Senior Boys will have the opportunity to race in the Perth to Fremantle long distance regatta at the end of May.  

Remember, if you can’t make a session, please email Claire.woolfitt@johnxxiii.edu.au, or jimmy.oregan@johnxxiii.edu.au for the Girls Squad or lauren.strong@johnxxiii.edu.au for the Boys Squad. Starting this week, an email will be sent to parents of rowers who did not attend the session without explanation. 

Remember the bus leaves the College bus shelter at 5:05am. See you at the boatshed!

John XXIII Rowers on the National Stage

We have current and past College rowers competing at both the Australian Rowing National Championships in Tasmania and the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships in Queensland this week. 

Lily Lucas, Year 12 and Liam Davis (Class 2023) are both competing for their club and in state crews with Lily making the WA Women’s Youth 8+ and Liam in the WA Men’s Youth 8+. Tom Walsh is in a crew with past students Jonah Thompson and Tom Townsend (Class 2025) competing for North Cottesloe. 

We wish these athletes all the very best for their competitions and hope they inspire others to follow their path. 

April Holidays Camp Dates 

If you can’t attend the camp, but wish to do some training over the holidays, please speak to Claire, Jimmy or Lauren and if there are sufficient numbers, we may be able to hold some training sessions.

We will be holding a combined Years 9 to 12 Rowing Camp during the first week of the April School holidays.

Please note: This camp will be an additional $300 and will be added to Rowing Fees. 

Please register here by 30 March: Rowing Camp 2026 – Fill out form.

Year 8 Learn to Row Registrations now open

This year, the Year 8 Learn to Row program commences with morning sessions in Week 2 of Term 2. This allows the Year 8s to train alongside the Years 9 to 12 rowers; the water conditions are generally better in the morning than in the afternoon, and students are not returning from the boatshed at 6pm.

Students participate in one water session at our Canning Bridge boatshed (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday morning. (An afternoon session will be considered if there is interest.)

Students also attend one land session at school in the afternoon, using the rowing ergometer or doing rowing-specific circuit training.

Rowing sessions:

• Tuesday morning 5:30am (bus departs school at 5:05am)
• Wednesday morning 5:30am (bus departs school at 5:05am)
• Thursday morning 5:30am (bus departs school at 5:05am)

There is a bus from school departing at 5:05am and all rowers return on the bus to school at approximately 8:10am. If it is more convenient, rowers can be dropped at the boatshed and catch the bus back to school. Morning sessions are mixed with both boys and girls in the same boats. 

For the land session, these are held from 3:30pm to 4:30pm at the school, combined with the rowers from Years 9 to 12, with a mixture of rowing ergometer and circuit exercises. 

• Girls land session at school is on Monday afternoons at 3:30pm - 4:30pm.
• Boys land session at school is on Thursday afternoons at 3:30pm - 4:30pm. 

Sessions commence in Week 2 of Term 2, and this year will go for nine weeks. Year 8s will have the opportunity to race in two regattas at Champion Lakes on Sunday, 14 June, and Saturday, 27 June. Year 8s are also encouraged to participate in the House Regatta on 29 August in Term 3. 

The cost of this program is $375. Please complete this form to register: 

Year 8 Learn to Row Registration Form 2026 – Fill out form

Please contact me at: claire.woolfitt@johnxxiii.edu.au if you have any queries. 

South West Head of the River - Cancelled

28 March 2026

If you had ordered a bacon and egg roll through TryBooking, please refer to a message posted to the year group what’s app in relation to a refund. 

Uniforms

The new zootsuit is now in stock at the Uniform Shop. There is also a training top that can be worn under the zootsuit, and a ¼-zip fleece. The only compulsory item is the Zootsuit for racing at regattas.  There is a stock of the old zootsuits which can be worn for training. 

Stack Team App

This App is one of our main avenues for communication with rowers and their parents. Please download the ‘Stack Team App’ on your phone, as this is the central place for training schedules, training updates, access to the rowing handbook, to name a few. It is important that all rowers and parents have access.

To get this app please go to the App Store or Google Play and download the Stack Team App onto your mobile device, then follow these simple steps:

• Sign-up to Stack Team App. You’ll be sent an email to confirm your registration.
• Log-in and search for JTCRC, then request to become a member.

Buses

• Pick up: 5:05am at College Bus shelter
• Return: 7:30am from Boatshed

2026 Rowing Club Registrations are open for Years 9 to 12 

It's never too late to register; the John XXIII Rowing Club welcomes existing and new members for our 2026 season.

Registrations are still open. Please complete the online Registration form by clicking on the link: JTC Rowing Registration for 2026 – Fill out form

Those who have not rowed before, or who would like to be a coxswain and represent the College, are also encouraged to join. 

 2026 (Term 1) Rowing Training Schedule  

2026 (Term 2) Rowing Training Schedule  

Key Rowing Events 2026

Absent from training procedure 

Asthma and Allergies

All rowers with asthma or allergies, please remember to bring your asthma puffers, EpiPens, or required medication to all sessions. 

Claire Woolfitt

John XXIII Rowing Coordinator