Like many, this weekend saw me glued to my laptop watching SA champs deliver nail biting finishes and results that made me proud to be a Jeppe Old Boy.

The rise of Jeppe Rowing over the past years has been nothing short of astonishing and it’s difficult to believe that only a few seasons ago, the club was hard pressed to enter crews into any race with confidence of even finishing the race.  It must be said that this was not due to the resolve of the crews themselves but rather the lack of race worthy equipment putting Jeppe Rowing in a dire situation.

Fast track to Jeppe coming second overall in this year’s SA Schools Championships and the question that must be asked is, ‘what’s changed’?  

My personal thought is that this is down to investment. Investment in people is paramount and throughout the years, this has been constant with the school and club investing in coaches, coaches investing in the oarsmen both as individuals and crews, and parents investing their time and money into their boys.

A key area of investment that was struggling was the need for good equipment for all age groups.     

The old boy community have risen to address this, helping make it possible for Jeppe as a government school to achieve second place at SA champs. The significance of this for the school and indeed the sport cannot be overstated.

Having achieved these results, we cannot not sit back and think that the job is done, the need for financial support will always be there. Jeppe Boats and Blades is a means through which you can invest in equipment to ensure Jeppe Rowing continues to flourish.  

I am pleased to announce that the results of the weekend we have already prompted a response and we have received the R2,000 needed to pay off a pair.  We felt it a fitting tribute that the U19 boys finishing this year should name the boat.  We still need R70k to pay off what we have already purchased, and all contributions are welcome.  Section 18A tax certs are available to those who require these.   

To find out about the “Adopt a Boat” scheme and other ways to contribute please do get in touch with us.

Thanks

Greg

Homestead Regatta

The club attended the Homestead regatta in Benoni held on the 19th of February 2022. This was a junior regatta only ( u14 and u15). Despite heavy delays due to lightning and rain, the club completed all their races and gained valuable regatta experience which will stand them in good stead with years to come. Unfortunately, there were no overall club points calculated by the officials at the regatta but the juniors achieved the following results:

U15C 1x 1st and 4th
U15B 1x 2nd , 4th and 9th
U14 B 2x 2nd
U14 B 8X 5th
U15 A 1x 10th and 12th
U14 B 1x 1st, 2nd and 3rd
U14 A 1x 3rd, 4th, 10th and 11th
U14 C 4x 4th
U14 B 4x 9th
U14 A 4x 2nd and 8th
U15 B 4x 1st and 6th
U15 A 4x 8th
U15 A 2x 3rd and 5th
U15 A 8x 5th

Congrats to all the athletes and coaches on a great regatta!

SA Champs Prelude

SA Champs will be held on 4, 5, 6 March at Victoria Lake, Germiston as Roodeplaat is unfortunately still suffering from the hyacinth issue. The club is particularly excited to race the 1st SASRU SA Champs since March 2020. To put it in perspective, boys who are currently racing in the u19 age group were in u15 when they last raced at SA Schools Champs. This year we are entering 13 u14 crews, 12 u15 crews, 8 u16 crews, 4, 2nd team, and 7 1st team crews to total 44 crew entries from Jeppe. The club has shown growth compared to the 2020 SA Champs where there were 37 crews entered. With many schools having lost big rowing numbers due to COVID and therefore having fewer entries in 2022 compared to 2020, our club is especially proud that we were able to grow numbers and put bums on seats despite the COVID related difficulties. The main contributor to this was the JBB fund raising initiative which purchased additional boats and equipment, allowing the club to accommodate more athletes.
We are very excited for the upcoming championship and hope to see as many Jeppe supporters on the banks of VLC as possible!

With Omicron numbers increasing at the rate of knots and South Africa experiencing one of the wettest Summers I can remember it really was touch and go as to whether this January Orkney camp would go ahead. I have never known so much about the water level of the Vaal Dam or how many sluice gates were open as I do now. Thank goodness, even though the Jetty at Orkney was under water it was decided it was still safe for the boys to train on the river. So, on Tuesday 04 January 66 boys, 9 coaches and 8 camp Moms set off to what has become hallowed ground for Jeppe Rowing.

After a 2.5-hour bus drive in the heat, the boys hit the ground running and made short work of setting up their tents, had a quick lunch and it was straight into a very intense 1km or 2km erg trial. Let’s just say that not everyone managed to hold onto their lunch, but I am told that this is normal and had nothing to do with my cooking abilities. This level of intense training continued throughout the next few days with water sessions starting at 5am and some finishing only at 7pm. If they were not on the water, they were on the ergo only stopping to consume 10kgs of bacon and 150 eggs for breakfast and 20kgs of meat for dinner. And not to mention the numerous blisters that needed to be lanced and cleaned.

I now understand where the brotherhood in this club starts, it is at Orkney. Even though the training was next level there was still time for the seniors to make sure the traditions were passed onto the juniors and to make sure that they felt part of this great club. The induction ceremony for the new U14 rowers brought all the Mom’s and even some of the Dad’s to tears. It is an incredibly special and touching tradition, and it is I believe the foundation of the Jeppe Rowing Club.

Last but by no means least I got to experience firsthand the passion and dedication of Simon Moore and his amazing team of coaches, they went above and beyond to make sure that these boys were not only physically prepared for the season but that they become one team from the youngest academy rower to the oldest senior rower. Never has the term “you are only as strong as your weakest link” been more apt as in one short camp, I could see lifelong bonds being formed.

The entire experience for a spectator was amazing but for the boys involved it was life changing and I have no doubt it will form the basis of many a story that is shared in the future. I must admit that I enjoyed every minute and if they will have me, I will definitely be back next year. However, one of my favorite moments was the Coaches vs 1st 8 race on the Saturday evening. Below is the link to the video of the race that sparked very many debates but all I kept hearing was “a win is a win.”

If you’ve watched any of the interviews we have done as Boats and Blades, you will know that one of the key questions we ask is: ‘What impact has rowing had on your adult life’?  Without exception, we have heard the positive life lessons people have learnt as oarsmen.

With 2021 drawing to an end, many will be feeling battered after a tough year. Using the analogy of a race, I want to share a life lesson that rowing taught me and hope it will encourage you. The life lesson I want to share is Finishing Strong.

As oarsmen, we know the feeling of being at the starting line, anxiously awaiting the umpire’s starting orders. This is followed by an explosion of power as you work on getting the boat moving.  In a very short period of time, every part of your body testifies to the fact that you are now racing, and there is no thought of pausing until you cross that finish line.  

Regardless of the distance, or how many pushes you’ve had over the course of the race, it is often the last 300 meters (only 30 strokes) that determine the outcome of your race. With this in mind, coxswains the world over know that no-matter how tough the race has been, the crew would rather give more, than regret being pipped at the post. So, regardless of the pain, every oarsman responds to the call for the final push, and no matter what the outcome, there is a deep satisfaction that comes from knowing that you gave it your all. 

This is as true in life as it is in rowing, and I am grateful that even in the hard times I can draw on this analogy.

As testimony to finishing strong, I want to thank everyone who has been a part of the JBB story over the past 2 years.  We are seeing and hearing that the success of the JBB initiative is getting attention from the wider rowing community. What it speaks of is the fact that when a group of like-minded people come together, there is very little that can stand in their way.

Many will already know that it is our mission to make Jeppe Rowing a leading force in school rowing and making it possible for every boy at Jeppe to experience the sport through the provision of good equipment and support. If this year has shown us anything, it is that everyone’s contribution counts, no matter the amount.

If 2021 was a race, the result is one we can be proud of.  In the context of JBB, we have funds and commitments that have allowed us to pay back over 65% of the loan for the 13 boats purchased at the end of 2020, we have seen the community grow in terms of numbers and engagement and are well on the way to having a keepsake coffee table book that will represent the collective experience of Jeppe Rowing over the decades.  

Thank you

Greg

Many people in the Jeppe Rowing Community will be aware of the opportunity given to name the 4+ that was paid for through their contributions.  This is the first 4+ in the fleet that has been paid for through collective contributions and at R40,000 (R10,000 a seat) this is a significant achievement.   

For the boat naming challenge, a total of 14 great options were submitted.  The votes determined that the boat is be named Sgian-dubh after the small, single-edged knife worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress. The blade is traditionally tucked into the top of the kilt hose with only the upper portion of the hilt visible and is normally worn on the same side as the dominant hand.

It’s not the first time a Jeppe boat has been named Sgian-dubh and there are fond memories of the first John Waugh, J Shape scull that was purchased in the 1995/96 season that bore the same name. The name also serves as a reminder of the strong connection that Jeppe Rowing has with the Jeppe Pipe Band.

Looking at the boat Barometer below you will note that the community are now also well on the way to paying for the first seat of a pair (silver seat shown on the boat barometer). We are putting out a challenge to raise R12,000 to pay for this boat by Christmas. Once paid for, the pair will also be put forward for naming.

Should you want to find out more about what we are about and how to get involved please contact us on the same email address or visit the website https://jeppeboatsandblades.co.za or contact us, if you don’t have details you can simply email trust@jeppeboatsandblades.co.za

Thanks,

Greg