Schoolboy bouncing back

The Canadian Secondary School Rowing Association championships continue to rebound.

This year’s 77th annual Schoolboy which started Friday on Henley Island has seen an increase in numbers as the regatta bounces back from a two-absence due to the COVID pandemic.

There are about 720 entries, 1,590 athletes (120 more females than males) and 137 schools.

“We are up almost 100 entries from last year and we are probably at 100 less entries than pre-pandemic,” regatta chair Ken Campbell said. “We always said that it was going be a two-or three-year rebuild.”

The pandemic cost high school rowing two years of athletes.

“The first year of the pandemic, the kids who were in Grade 9 didn’t get to row. Then they got to Grade 10 and they couldn’t row and the Grade 9s couldn’t row. They lost two years of training and people weren’t getting involved,” he said. “That is a lot of athletes and it is across the board with everybody.”

Campbell is hoping the resurgence will continue.

“I don’t know if it will ever totally rebound but it is getting closer. It is building up. We are up probably up a dozen schools but mind you, a lot of schools that are coming are just bringing one or two athletes. But there are programs in the schools and they are starting to build.”

The number of American schools competing is about the same compared to past years because of a few late cancellations. Canadian schools are coming from across Canada and there is even a school from the Bahamas with six athletes competing this week.

“I know talking to some of the American schools earlier in the year that school boards are still not letting them cross the border.”

There are a number of entries coming from the Maritimes who will compete in the Schoolboy and then take part in the junior national team trials next week at Henley Island.

The most popular events are the ones involving small boats.

“Unfortunately, because I like watching the big boats. They are more exciting,” Campbell said.

There are no changes to the regatta.

“After the pandemic, we said this is the schedule and we are going to keep it for three years and then after this year we will look at the data and events see what changes we have to do.”

Looming is how a recent decision by Rowing Canada will impact the regatta. In 2022, Rowing Canada began a review of under-19 lightweight rowing and this month the RCA board of directors passed a motion to discontinue under-19 lightweight rowing and replace it with alternatives at a date still to be determined. It will not take effect during the current 2024 competitive season.

“We will have to get everyone in line with that as well. Rowing Canada does not support lightweight rowing in under-19 and all our athletes are under-19,” Campbell said. “We have to come up with something. We haven’t discussed it yet.”

About 50 per cent of the Schoolboy’s athletes are lightweights.

At this year’s regatta, there will be about 300 volunteers helping make it run smoothly.

“We have a lot of the continuing volunteers and we are bringing a lot of the new volunteers on line. With all the events that are happening here, we are always looking for new volunteers because a lot of our volunteers are aging,” he said. “With St. Catharines hosting the world championships this year, we have new volunteers signed up for that and they are at this event as well and getting a taste of it.”

The new finish tower is not yet operational and a temporary finish tower is located in the grandstand.

Campbell is in his 24th year as regatta chair and says it is a labour of love.

“I have always liked this event. It is fun, it is early in the season and I usually have some time off afterwards although not this year,” he said, alluding to his role as racing chair at the worlds. “I am here to make sure the kids have a good time and have safe races.”

Racing continues Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2:11 p.m. Finals will be held Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.