Image Credit: Rowing Australia
In Australian rowing, the pinnacle for schoolboy and schoolgirl crews is their respective state and private Head of the River (HOTR) regattas. However, just one to two weeks after these climactic races, the nation’s best schools converge at the Australian Rowing Championships—commonly known as Nationals—to battle for supremacy. This year, the finest schoolboy eights from across the country will descend on the remote island of Tasmania, where the prestigious Barrington Cup will be decided.
The Barrington Cup, awarded to the winning schoolboy eight crew, is a coveted prize, earning its place in a school’s trophy cabinet for the following year. In 2024, The Southport School (TSS) from Surfers Paradise came heartbreakingly close, missing out on victory by just 0.04 seconds after being rowed down by the sky-blue-clad rowers from The King’s School, Sydney.
Fast forward a year, and much has changed. As we assess the field for the 2025 title, the competition is fiercer than ever. A total of 24 schoolboy eights—eight more than last year—will chase the elusive Barrington Cup at next week’s #ARC25, with seven of last year’s eight A-final boats returning.
Many state HOTRs have yet to be completed at the time of writing, meaning these predictions are subject to change. However, if last year’s Barrington Cup race taught us anything, it’s that winning the HOTR does not guarantee success at Nationals. Anything can happen on race day.
St Ignatius College (Riverview)
Matt Curtin’s nine-man crew from the Lane Cove River has enjoyed one of the most dominant seasons of any schoolboy eight in Australia. Boasting blistering times and an almost flawless race record, Riverview is undoubtedly the crew to beat. My prediction? They will claim the Major Rennie Trophy this Saturday with clear water and repeat the feat at #ARC25.
Beyond Nationals, an intriguing question remains: will head coach Daniel Noonan push the crew further and target The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at this year’s Henley Royal Regatta? We’ll have a clearer picture when they finish on Sunday, March 30.
Scotch College VIC
If anyone can disrupt Riverview’s dream season, it’s the red-and-yellow-clad crew from Scotch College, Melbourne. A school with a rich history in the schoolboy eight, Scotch was part of the last Australian crew to win The Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley, breaking a 16-year drought in 2017 with victory over Radley College.
Earlier this season, the NSW Championships previewed the upcoming battle for the Barrington Cup. Among a stacked field of 28 crews, Scotch finished second, with overlap over Riverview. With crews constantly refining their race strategies, Scotch could be a serious threat at Lake Barrington. Their trademark fast starts have the potential to shake up the competition—if they can maintain that speed beyond the transition phase, expect fireworks.
The Southport School (TSS)
TSS faces a major test of depth this year, with only one returning athlete from their 2024 crew. Nevertheless, the boys from Surfers Paradise have dominated the Queensland circuit and earned a podium finish at the NSW Championships. The question now is whether they can carry that momentum beyond the HOTR and into Nationals.
Prediction
Predicting the outcome of the Barrington Cup is notoriously difficult, and this year is no exception. The state HOTRs will provide further clarity before the final showdown on Sunday, March 30, but the race remains wide open.
Strong contenders such as SHORE, King’s, Hutchins, and Xavier College could all disrupt the pecking order, making the heats, repechages, and semifinals—beginning Friday, March 28—essential viewing.
That said, three standout crews from the country’s top rowing states have dominated the season, and it would be a surprise if they didn’t occupy the podium.
Barrington Cup Winners – St Ignatius College (Riverview)
2nd Place – Scotch College VIC
3rd Place – The Southport School
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