John XXIII Rowing Club 

Dear Rowing Families

Last weekend, our boys’ squad and most of our Year 8s competed in the All Schools Regatta #2. It was a great day of racing, and although it was a very long day, our rowers competed their hardest. Thank you to those who stayed until the end to help with boat unloading. 

Over the holidays, we have the first week off. For Years 9 to 12 rowers, two sessions are being offered in the second week (excluding Year 8s). If you intend to attend, please complete the form: Holiday Training. 

Further details are on the Stack App. The form must be completed to ensure we have enough coaches attending. 

In week one, students travelling to Queensland for the Rowing Tour will undergo training to prepare them for racing. We depart on Sunday, 13 July and train for the week in Brisbane before heading to the regatta venue on Friday and racing at the South East Queensland All Schools Regatta on Saturday, 19 and Sunday, 20 July.

Upcoming Regattas

Keep an eye out for the sign-up for all upcoming regattas. 

All Schools Regatta 2 –  28 June            

The John XXIII Rowing Club boys’ squad and Year 8s raced at Champion Lakes last Saturday. The Year 8s in the mixed quads had the best conditions of the day. The girls, however, faced a crosswind in the middle of the day, which made lining up at the start very difficult. Meanwhile, the boys’ quads raced hard against some fast crews. Despite only rowing for eight weeks and experiencing a few mishaps, such as catching crabs and oars coming loose, all crews had a great time and performed well, considering their opposition had been training all year. We hope the Year 8s enjoyed the experience. 

The boys’ squad raced in all categories on the day, and although decimated by illness, raced hard and to their best ability. Coaches could see some areas for improvement and will focus on them in the next four weeks before the All Schools Championships on 9 August. Please attend as many sessions as possible, and we encourage you to engage in some form of exercise over the holidays to maintain your fitness. 

2025 Year 8 Learn to Row

Despite lower numbers at the extra training sessions this week, those who attended were treated to some fabulous conditions, and crews are really coming together and refining their technique. 

Given that Year 8s will race at the next regatta, we will have two sessions in Week 1 next term. These sessions will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday (before school resumes). There will be a bus from school at the normal time of 5:05am and dropped back at approximately 8:10am. Please complete the form if you will attend. 

Year 8 training week 1 term 3.  

For the next regatta races, times will be similar if you are intending to compete: Mixed quads are the first races of the day (8:30am), girls’ quads around 1:00pm, boys’ quads around 2:30pm. Please note your availability and preferred time on the form. We want rowers to arrive at the lake around an hour before their race time so they can prepare, locate their oars and boat, settle in, and launch with plenty of time to spare. 

Year 8 students are not expected to attend loading or unloading, and they can be dropped off and picked up from Champion Lakes. 

Year 8 students do not need to purchase a zootsuit and can race in their PE uniform. 

The Year 8s are racing in various Year 9 categories – on the program, it looks like this: 

• SXY94X+ (School Mixed Year 9 Quad Scull with coxswain)
• SBY94X+ (School Boys Year 9 Quad Scull with coxswain)
• SGY94X+ (School Girls Year 9 Quad Scull with coxswain)

Please bring snacks, appropriate clothing, socks, hat, and a water bottle. 

Sign up for Rowing Regattas. Sign up closes on Thursday, 17 July, for the second regatta. 

A WhatsApp group has been created for Year 8 parents. Please contact me if you haven’t been added to it. You can still contact me via email. 

Parents' names are being added to the Stack Team App, which we use for communication, particularly regattas, so please keep an eye out for this in your emails. 

Year 7 Learn to Row

The Year 7 Learn to row program will be held in Term 3, with the form to register linked here: Learn to row sign up.

We are requesting session preferences for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. It will most likely only be two afternoons offered. 

Once we have confirmed the number of registrations, we will notify you via email. 

A bus leaves school at 3:30pm and leaves the boatshed to return to school at 5:30pm for a 6:00pm pick up. 

Sessions will commence in the week beginning Monday, 11 August. 

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

Uniforms

The new zootsuit is now in stock at the Uniform Shop. There is also a training top which can be worn under the zootsuit. The only compulsory item is the zootsuit for racing at regattas. There is stock of the old Zootsuit which can be worn. Year 8 students can wear their PE uniform to the race and are not required to purchase a zootsuit. 

Stack Team App

Please download the Stack Team App if you have not already done so. This app is one of our main avenues for communication with rowers and their parents. This is the central place for training schedules, training updates, and rowers can contact their coach in case of illness or injury and missed trainings. 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 Stack Team App onto your mobile device, then follow these simple steps:

1. Sign-up to Stack Team App. You’ll be sent an email to confirm your registration.
2. 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

2025 Rowing Club Registrations are now open for Years 9 to 12 

It's never too late to register and the John XXIII Rowing Club welcomes existing and new members for our 2025 season.

Registrations are still open. Please complete the online Registration Form here: 

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

Training Schedule  

*Senior refers to Years 11 and 12 

Key Rowing Events 2025

Absent from training procedure 

Asthma and Allergies

All rowers with asthma or allergies are required to bring their asthma puffers, EpiPens or required medication to all sessions.

Claire Woolfitt

John XXIII Rowing Coordinator