After countless kilometres of training on Australian waters, only two regattas have truly highlighted the unpredictability of AAGPS schoolboy eights racing: the SHORE School Regatta and the NSW State Championships, both held at Penrith’s Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC). While one thing is certain — the crew from St Ignatius College (Riverview) are the ones to beat in the race for the Major Rennie Trophy — the battle for the minor placings remains wide open.
If there’s one event that throws all these factors into the mix, it’s the notorious Riverview Gold Cup Regatta, raced on the winding Lane Cove River. For those unfamiliar with the course, the race begins at Woolwich and runs 1100m west before a sharp left-hand dogleg just outside the St Ignatius Boat Shed, finishing at Riverview College Wharf. With spectator boats lining the entire 1400m stretch, the regatta delivers the perfect blend of chaos and excitement.
Riverview
With an unbeaten 2024–2025 season, Riverview will be again looking to retain the schoolboy eight silver oars. Fresh off their dominant victory at the NSW State Championships, the Lane Cove crew will be eager to impress in front of their home crowd.
The King’s School
The boys from North Parramatta are experiencing a mixed season. After snatching the Barrington Cup at last year’s Australian Rowing Championships by just 0.04 seconds, this new-look crew is still finding its rhythm. With only two returning members, Otto Gerber (c) and William Farrah, King’s will rely on their experience to close the gap on the season’s dominant force. At the NSW State Championships, King’s finished in the sixth–eighth place battle in the championship schoolboy eight final, while crews from Victoria and Queensland struggled to match Riverview’s pace.
Shore
Under the guidance of World Rowing champion coach Jason Baker, the crew from Sydney’s North Shore is making steady progress toward securing the silver medal position. Their performance at the NSW State Championships showed promise, and they’ll be looking to embrace the unique conditions of the Lane Cove course to gain an edge over their rivals.
Prediction
Heat 1 (9:12 AM AEDT) features Riverview, King’s, Sydney Boys High, and Sydney Grammar. Expect Riverview and King’s to progress comfortably, leaving the two academic powerhouses to battle it out in the B-final.
Heat 2 (9:16 AM AEDT) presents a tougher challenge. With Shore and Newington on the favoured side of the dogleg buoy, these two should secure their places in the A-final, while the cerise-coloured Empacher carrying the crew from St Joseph’s will look to put down a statement run in the B-final.
A-Final Prediction:
1st – Riverview
2nd – King’s
3rd – SHORE
4th – Newington
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