John XXIII Rowing Club 

Dear Rowing Families

As we come to the end of term, take a moment to reflect on how far you have come during Term 1 of rowing. For the Year 9s, their boat handling and technique is coming on in leaps and bounds, with most of them having the confidence to try a single scull. For the Year 10s and Seniors, your technical improvements have been more about gelling with your crew mates and your improvements in fitness are evident with your ergo results. Over the holidays, aim to do a few sessions by yourself or with friends – go for a run, swim, hike, or bike ride to maintain your fitness – don’t forget your body weight exercise such as squats and lunge and your core exercises as well! 

We hit the ground running in Term 2, with the first IGSSA Regatta for the girls at the end of Week 2, so please complete the Consent to Go form when that is distributed so we know your availability. 

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!

IGSSA Regatta

The first regatta of the IGSSA season is on Saturday 2nd May. Please attend as many training sessions as possible when we re-commence training in Term 2. Crews will be selected and notified to rowers in the first week of school. Please ensure your coach knows your availability. 

Regattas generally run until 12pm, followed by boat unloading until approximately 2pm. 

John XXIII Rowers on the National Stage

Last week current and former JTC rowers shone on the national stage both at the Australian Rowing National Championships in Tasmania and the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships in Queensland. 

Lily Lucas, Year 12 had a fantastic regatta, winning gold medals in the Under 19 Women’s coxed 8 and rowing in the WA State Team and winning the Interstate Women’s Youth 8. Lily also achieved 3rd in the B Final of the Under 19 Single in very windy conditions. 

Liam Davis (Class 2023) won a bronze medal in Under 21 Coxless Pair, 5th in the Under 21 Coxless Four and a silver medal the WA Interstate Men’s Youth 8+. 

At the Surf Life Saving Championships Tom Walsh, Year 12, Jonah Thompson and Tom Townsend (both Class 2025) won a bronze medal in their surfboat event and a silver in the relay. 

Congratulations to all of our current and past rowers on their achievements. 

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. 

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 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