Director of Sport

Rowing

The St Virgil’s College rowing team produced an outstanding performance at the SATIS Head of the River Regatta, held at Lake Barrington last Saturday, capping off an exceptional season for the program.

The College claimed its sixth consecutive Junior Shield, continued its dominance across the younger age groups, and achieved a historic victory in the Year 10 8+, winning the event for the first time since 1998. The Senior program also delivered one of its strongest performances in recent memory, finishing a narrow second in the Open 8+ after an exciting race against long-time rivals Hutchins.

The result reflects more than six months of dedication from the boys, who have trained through early mornings, afternoon sessions, weekend racing, training camps and countless kilometres on the water and in the gym.

Dominance Across the Junior Program

The strength of the St Virgil’s rowing program was evident throughout the regatta, with crews delivering outstanding results across multiple age groups.

St Virgil’s rowers won every Year 9 and Year 10 event, a remarkable achievement that secured the Junior Shield for the sixth consecutive year and highlights the depth and development of the program.

The College’s younger athletes also performed strongly in the Year 7 and Year 8 divisions, producing several impressive results and demonstrating the bright future of rowing at the school.

Historic Year 10 Eight Victory

One of the highlights of the regatta was the victory of the Year 10 8+, which secured the College’s first win in the event in nearly three decades.

The crew of C Cook, P Jefferson, O Henley, F Archibald-Mitchell, A Mooney, R Lamprey, F McManamey, H Godfrey, and Cox J Langdale delivered a powerful and composed performance to take the win, marking a significant milestone for the program and a moment that will be remembered in the College’s rowing history.

Senior Crews Show Courage and Leadership

The Senior rowers delivered an inspiring performance throughout the day.

Following a challenging week leading into the regatta, the Open crews showed exceptional determination, composure and pride in representing the College.

The Senior squad of F McManamey, C Cubit, L Dunning, H Godfrey, H Costelloe, H Mollon, L Gray, A Lamprey, Coxed by D Walker & Ed Doyle, claimed victory in the Open 4s, while the Open 8+ produced a thrilling race, finishing a narrow second to Hutchins in what was the College’s best result in the event in over 30 years.

The Senior athletes led with courage and passion and left a strong legacy for the younger rowers coming through the program.

Pride in the Whole Team

While the medals and trophies were significant, the regatta ultimately reflected the spirit and culture of the St Virgil’s rowing program — one built on commitment, teamwork and resilience.

Every student who represented the College throughout the regatta can be proud of their efforts and the dedication they have shown throughout the season.

Thank You to the Rowing Community

The success of the program would not be possible without the support of many people behind the scenes. The College extends its sincere thanks to the Director of Rowing, Oliver Wilson-Haffenden, all the volunteer coaches, support staff and rowing families who give their time and energy to support the team. Their dedication plays a vital role in creating an environment where the boys can train, develop and compete at their best.

With the season now concluded, the achievements of the 2026 squad will stand as one of the strongest performances in recent St Virgil’s rowing history.

A full list of results can be found here: https://rowingmanager.com/regattas/6967/results