03 April 2025
A trip to the National Rowing Championships and a full week of racing is an experience for any of us and especially the boys. They get to rub shoulders with the best rowers in the country, line up alongside the big east coast schools, test themselves in different boat types and be at the very centre of the action as it happens. Tasmania, Lake Barrington and its volunteers added a whole different dimension to the experience. I had forgotten just how spectacular Lake Barrington is; it must rank as one of the most picturesque courses in the world.
Nineteen boys from St Peter’s College took part, including a determined Don crew eager to prove a point after the Head of the River, and a young Wylly crew using the week as a stepping stone for what’s to come. Our junior sculler, Hugh Hall-Craggs (Year 9) at just 14, earned his place in the U17 single scull A final, a feat in itself, given the size of the field and the number of rounds.
In the early days, small boats dominated the program. There were wins, tight reps and plenty of lessons. The Wylly split into fours. The Don showed early signs of form. One quad pulled together mid-week and stroked and coxed by Saints boys, collected a bronze medal. There were long days, winds that changed direction by the hour, and a particularly curious echidna who wandered the boat park like he’d been here before.
As the week progressed, so did the racing. Both the Don and the Wylly crews grew in confidence and speed. The Don broke the six-minute barrier and made the Schoolboy VIII final. The Wylly, still developing their rhythm, produced one of their strongest performances in the 500m sprint event, missing a medal by just over half a second.
The final weekend brought early fog and big finals. The Don placed fifth in the U19 VIII and produced a brilliant semi to reach the Schoolboy A Final, clawing back a three-second deficit with a final surge to snatch qualification by 0.26 seconds. The Wylly, after an intense week of racing and reflection, delivered a strong final row and will return with valuable experience in the bank.
Old scholars made their presence known. Oscar Wurm (Year 12) raced twice on the final day. His brother Hugo Wurm (DAC 2022) stepped into the King’s Cup crew. Kyle Miller (MAC 2022), George Griffith (YNG 2024), and Max Henry (MAC 2022) all featured in state events. But pride of place went to Oscar McGuinness (WDK 2017), who stormed to victory in the President’s Cup for the Interstate single scull. Leading from the first stroke, he set the pace and never looked back. An extraordinary race from an extraordinary athlete.
Special thanks to the families who supported from every angle and to everyone who helped make this week one the boys will never forget.
Wade Hall-Craggs
Head of Rowing
