National Pride and International Ambitions Take Centre Stage at 2025 South African Rowing Championships
National Pride and International Ambitions Take Centre Stage at 2025 South African Rowing Championships
The 2025 South African National Rowing Championships, held over the weekend of April 26–27, brought together the country’s finest rowing talent in an action-packed regatta featuring school, club, provincial and national team crews. It marked a critical milestone for many athletes preparing for international campaigns and offered a thrilling display of the depth and competitiveness of South African rowing.
A major highlight of the weekend was the impressive showing from South Africa’s junior, U23, and senior national squads, who used the regatta as a final opportunity to trial combinations and test speed ahead of upcoming World Championship competition.
Two of the standout women’s events of the weekend came in the Women’s A Single Sculls and Women’s A Pair. In the single sculls final, Kat Williams claimed a decisive victory, followed by Paige Badenhorst in second and Courtney Westley in third. The final also featured strong performances from Chloe Cresswell and promising newcomer Donè Erasmus, who finished fifth and showed exciting potential for the future. In the A Pair, Katherine Williams and Courtney Westley delivered a dominant performance to secure gold, underlining their strength as a leading national combination.
On the men’s side, Paris 2024 Olympian Christopher Baxter delivered a remarkable sweep across multiple events, showcasing his elite form with victories in the Men’s Single Scull, Pair, Four, and Eight. In the single scull final, Baxter took gold, with rising U23 talent Braden Howard earning silver and returning senior squad member Damien Bonhage-Koen rounding out the podium in third. The pair of Baxter and Bonhage-Koen, who previously broke the U23 world record together, reunited to win gold in the pair once again. The men's four event saw Baxter, Bonhage-Koen, Howard, and Lebone Makoseng take a commanding win, with the Stellenbosch University crew claiming a strong silver.
Meanwhile, the South African Schools Rowing Union (SASRU) crews—made up of top performing U16 athletes—raced their final events on home soil before heading to the UK, where they aim to demonstrate the strength of South African school rowing on the international stage.
Adding to the event’s prestige, the Masters Men’s 8+ race featured eight Olympians on the start line, representing Games from 1992 through 2021. It was a testament to the enduring legacy and passion of South Africa’s rowing legends, with the Old Edwardian Boat Club claiming gold in a race brimming with experience and competitive fire.
Reflecting on the championships, Ben Burnand, president of Rowing South Africa, noted:
One of the most memorable moments of the regatta was seeing our Olympian, Paige Badenhorst, jump into a double scull with 16-year-old Kenya Simpson. I can only imagine what this experience meant for young Kenya, but even more so, what a powerful example it sets for all our athletes. This spirit of mentorship and camaraderie resonated throughout the event, from coaches—whether from the Western Cape or our neighbours in Zimbabwe—coming together to support each other with equipment and athletes, ensuring that we witnessed high-quality racing.
As we transition from our domestic season to a series of international tours, I’m reminded that a good athlete should always play to their strength. For South African rowing I believe our strength is our community spirit. When the likes of Paige, Damien, Chris, Braden, Kat, and Court—along with the rising stars in our ranks— pour so much of themselves into uplifting the next generation, it becomes our responsibility to ensure they have every opportunity to make us proud on the international stage.
Good luck to all those working hard to represent South African Rowing overseas – make us all proud.
With domestic competition wrapped up for the local season, South Africa’s top crews now turn their focus to the international season, carrying forward the momentum built on home waters.
