Weekend Wrap: CSSRA’s Cap Off High School Rowing Season

A busy three days of high school rowing action finished up on Sunday as the 76th annual Canadian Secondary Schools Regatta Association Championships took place from Martindale Waterways in St. Catharines.

A total of 128 clubs from across Canada and the US took part in the event, which featured 648 entries across a wide range of race categories. The turnout of 648 entries marks a big increase from 2022, when the event returned from a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With last year’s total entries just shy of 500, the 2023 edition had over a 31% increase in the number of entries. The Canadian content consisted of schools from BC, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Quebec, in addition to 68 total schools from Ontario.

No school had more success over the three-day event than EL Crossley S.S., of Fonthill, ON who completed a strong season on the water by bringing home the most medals with eighteen. The Cyclones also earned the most gold medals with nine, while also earning four silver and five bronze. They topped Brentwood College School of Mill Bay, BC who came in second in the medal standings with 14 (7 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze) and Claremont Sports Institute of Victoria who earned the third-most medals with ten (2 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze).

Other Ontario schools earning medals included Ridley College (5), Eden H.S. (5), Branksome Hall (4), Sir Winston Chruchill (3), Regiopolis Notre Dame (3), Havergal College (2), Upper Canada College (2), Saint Michael C.H.S. (2), St. Peter C.S. (2), St. Mary’s School (1), Loyola Catholic S.S. (1), Elmwood School (1), Saltfleet District School (1), Denis Morris C.H.S. (1), Guelph Royals (1), West Niagara S.S. (1), St. Francis H.S. (1), Blessed Trinity H.S. (1), Westdale Community (1) and Kingston S.S. (1).

The rowers competed in junior, senior, and novice divisions across men’s, women’s and mixed open and lightweight categories. With the high school season now over, many of the CSSRA competitors will move to club competition for the remainder of the rowing season.

For full results from the CSSRA Championships visit Regatta Master.

For the full regatta schedule in Ontario, visit the Row Ontario website.

Photo is property of Canadian Secondary Schools Regatta Association.