For 31 consecutive years, St Benedict’s College has not just dominated school rowing in South Africa, they’ve redefined what excellence looks like.
Johannesburg, South Africa (26 March 2025) – Holding onto a national title for one year is a remarkable feat. But clinching it 31 years in a row? That’s something truly extraordinary and exactly what St Benedict’s College has done.
The Johannesburg-based school has once again proven that it’s not just participating in South African school rowing, it’s redefining the standard.
At the 2025 South African Rowing Championships, St Benedict’s secured their 31st consecutive win, reinforcing their dominance in the sport and continuing a legacy that stretches across generations.
Hosted at the iconic Roodeplaat Dam, the three-day national regatta drew over 1,100 athletes from 33 boys’ and girls’ schools and clubs across South Africa and Zimbabwe. It was a weekend of grit, power, and pure determination, with each of the 784 boys competing fiercely to knock the reigning champions off the top spot.
But the Bennies boys were simply in a league of their own.
“This kind of success doesn’t come easy,” said St Benedict’s old boy and current head of the school’s rowing club, Darryn Roff. “Thirty-one years of success isn’t easy – it requires extraordinary dedication from our boys. Despite winning becoming the norm, these young men continuously carry the weight of a legacy on their shoulders.”
That legacy was on full display, from the U14s breaking a course record in the octuple (despite unfavourable conditions) to a clean sweep in the U14 scull, taking first, second, and third place. The first eight and U16 eight races were won with emphatic margins, and for the first time since 1996, St Benedict’s won the first sculling event, thanks to Grade 11 student Michael Teixeira – a moment made even more special by its link to a rowing legend.
With wins across the U14, U16, and Open age groups and a spectacular victory in the main event of the weekend, the 1st Eight race, St Benedict’s ended the regatta with a staggering 466 points, making them South Africa’s top boys’ rowing school.
College Head Dave Jeffrey explained the depth of effort behind the school’s unmatched streak: “Our 31-year streak isn’t luck. It’s built on unwavering dedication, with our boys training rigorously at dawn and dusk, both on and off the water. Their sacrifices and perseverance have yielded extraordinary results that make us immensely proud. Behind this success stands the commitment of coaches and parents, alongside our continuous investment in rowing as our flagship sport.”
He added that rowing has become part of the school’s identity. A culture so powerful that participation is natural.
“We’re particularly excited about the transformation we’re witnessing in the sport, with diverse representation across all boat classes, age groups, and coaching staff – a development we’ve intentionally cultivated and celebrate.”
This is why it matters. At a time when so many young people are faced with pressure and distraction, stories like this shine through. These rowers show what can happen when passion meets purpose and when schools create an environment where excellence is encouraged and supported.
Roff summed it up perfectly: “Our training is scientifically grounded and enriched by years of experience, while our mentoring approach instils deep self-belief in our athletes. This combination, the Bennies way, has proven remarkably effective.”
Their rowing culture, shaped by returning old boys, dedicated coaches, supportive parents, and inspired teammates, continues to deliver not just medals but role models, memories, and momentum for a brighter future.
And as Jeffrey shared, “Watching our boys row is truly a sight to behold. They transform into a single, seamlessly functioning unit, poetry in motion, a symphony of synchronised blades that propelled them to the podium.”
To the 2025 St Benedict’s champions: congratulations on another legendary chapter. Your grit, heart and commitment have once again made South Africa proud.
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