College Life

Sakina Blessed as Rowing Season Begins

The first All Schools Regatta of the season unfolded with a sense of gratitude and quiet determination. The day began in a special way, as Sakina - the latest addition to our fleet - was unveiled and blessed under the morning sun, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the team.

From the first race, All Saints' rowers put in strong performances, with Ophelia Goh (Year 9) earning gold in the Year 9 single scull and Amalie Furchtenicht (Year 9) guiding the Year 10 girl's quad to victory as their cox. Their successes were accompanied by two silver medals and a bronze, supported by Sienna Kemp (Year 8) and Isabel Lim (Year 9), who embraced the challenge despite only beginning her rowing journey in February.

For many rowers, this regatta was their first—an important milestone that was met with pride and encouragement from coaches and teammates. The weather offered calm conditions, helping novices settle into their race plans, until the final race of the day, when Mikayla Perera (Year 8) and Manuli Rajakaruna (Year 8) had to contend with a difficult headwind. They met the challenge with quiet confidence, staying composed through the shifting conditions.

Across the team’s entries, Nishaan Sunner (Year 10) and Alicia Garvey (Year 10) showed poise in their singles to win their respective races.  Nishaan also stepped up to the Open category and won his heat. Alicia joined Rosie Bennison (Year 10) for gold in the double scull, while Nithin Shivakumar (Year 10) partnered with Nishaan in a composite eight with Swan River Rowing Club, securing another victory. Hayley Walker and Ella Smith rounded out the medal tally with their win in the Year 10 Girls quad.

Throughout the day, senior rowers led by example—not just in their own races, but in the care and support they offered to younger teammates. Their experience and guidance added to the sense of community that defined the event.

With just two weeks until the next regatta, the team looks ahead to welcoming rowers from the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. As the season progresses, they carry forward a spirit of appreciation—for the opportunities, the friendships and the dedication that bring them together on the water.

2025 ACC Cross Country

Thursday 5 June saw the conclusion of the Cross Country season with the ACC Cross Country Carnival. Although we witnessed some amazing individual achievements over several events, this season was all about commitment to the team and representing the College.

Two Running Club training sessions each week attracted many keen runners, including Junior and Senior School students, Old Saints’, parents and staff. This created an enjoyable and competitive environment for those wanting to push themselves, or for those simply wanting to improve their running skills. These sessions were conducted by Lyndon Kenworthy-Groen (Old Saint) and coach Ben Green from Front Runner Sport and contributed significantly to the fitness and overall performance of our runners. 

On the day All Saints’ College finished 12th overall out of the 79 schools represented, an excellent achievement. In addition to this overall result, there were some exceptional results, with 19 students placing in the top 75 of each of their respective divisions (as indicated below).  Each race had approximately 400 students competing, so this is an incredible achievement. Students worked very hard to achieve their place in the ACC Cross Country team and we saw a lot of PBs by a number of our competitors on the day.

A very special mention goes to Olivia Smith (1st), Toby Riches (2nd) and Nate Pauline (5th), all of whom qualify for the 2025 ACC All Star Team. Zoe Scahill also finished 13th, an outstanding achievement. 

A few other special mentions must go to:

– Our Year 11/12 runners who took time out from studying while on their exams.

– All the reserve runners who stepped up on the day to represent the College.

Runners who finished in the Top 75 in their age group out of around 400 competitors.

A very big thank you to the staff and parents who supported and motivated the students in the early mornings at Running Club and to the canteen for their help with providing breakfast for the runners. 

Congratulations to the entire team on their efforts and commitment this season, as we look forward to Athletics season and another successful season in 2026.

Running Club training will continue on Tuesday and Thursday for the remainder of Term 2, and will continue in Term 3. All students, staff, parents and Old Saints are encouraged to attend. 

Mr Damien Stevens and Finn Williams (Year 12)

(Cross Country Coordinator and Cross Country Captain 2025)