NSW Combined High Schools Sports Association Handbook
Amended 2026
4.15 Rowing- NSWCHSSA Championship
4.15.1 Championship rules
(a) Status
(i) under 17 – a competitor ceases to be under 17 on 31st December of the year in which he/she reaches the age of 16 years.
(ii) under 16- a competitor ceases to be under 16 on 31st December of the year in which he/she reaches the age of 15 years.
(iii) under 15- a competitor ceases to be under 15 on 31st December of the year in which he/she reaches the age of 14 years.
(iv) Every rower must be in a position to prove his/her age by production of an official document (e.g. birth certificate, drivers licence).
(v) Inter-association quadruple – this race is open to under 17 and championship competitors.
The "association" is defined by the School Sport Unit:
Hunter Schools Sports Association
North Coast Schools Sports Association
North West Schools Sports Association
Riverina Schools Sports Association
South Coast Schools Sports Association
Sydney East Schools Sports Association
Sydney North Schools Sports Association
Sydney South West Schools Sports Association
Sydney West Schools Sports Association
Western Schools Sports Association
Schools within a association are encouraged to make "composite" crews to form their association crew.
Each association may nominate one men's and one women's crew.
Competitors may only row for the association to which their school is affiliated.
(b) Distance
(i) Championship and under 17 events – 2000m.
(ii) under 16, under 15 years events – 1000m.
(c) Pointscore
(i) The 3 point score trophies schoolboys, schoolgirls and championship school will be decided on the following scoring system:
1st – 4 points | 2nd – 2 points | 3rd – 1 point
(ii) Points will only be awarded for the highest place where the same school fills two or more places.
(iii) Points will be awarded for all finals except the association 8 race.
(d) Special awards
(i) The Gabrielle Pritchard Memorial Award
At the conclusion of the NSWCHSSA Rowing Championship Regatta the state convener and the umpire referee shall choose the most outstanding female competitor of the championship for that year and she shall be awarded the "Gabrielle Pritchard Memorial Trophy".
(ii) The Reg Galvin Memorial Award
At the conclusion of the NSWCHSSA Rowing Championship Regatta the state convener and the umpire referee shall choose the most outstanding male competitor of the championship for that year and he shall be awarded the "Reg Galvin Memorial Trophy".
(iii) NSWCHSSA Rowing Blue
To qualify for a Blue a rower must satisfy the requirements as per the NSWCHSSA Handbook "Blues Conditions" - Section 2.7.3 and/or any rower winning an event at the NSWCHSSA regatta will be deemed to be representing NSWCHSSA at the Australian titles (for that year) thus allowing them to be eligible for a NSWCHSSA Rowing Blue.
(iv) Sports specific life membership (teacher and community member)
Be awarded as follows:
A person who has given 10 years of active service and/or who has made a significant contribution to rowing in such a way that it has led to obvious and significant changes or development of rowing at the NSWCHSSA level. Refer NSWCHSSA Handbook "Sport specific life membership" - Section 2.7.8 and "Sport specific life membership community member" - Section 2.7.9.
(e) Conduct of the regatta
(i) The regatta will be conducted in accordance with the NSWCHSSA Rowing championship rules and NSWCHSSA rules, in conjunction with the NSW Rowing Association Laws of Boat Racing.
(ii) A meeting of all boat race officials and school representatives be held one (1) hour prior to the first event of each day of racing. This meeting will inform all parties of any changes to rules, program alterations and procedures to be followed for the regatta.
4.15.2 Order of events finals
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- Para Single Scull
- CM2- – Championship Men’s Double Scull
- CW 4+ – Championship Women’s Coxed Four
- MU14 1x – Men’s under 14 Single
- MU15 1x – Men’s under 15 Single
- WU17 4x+ – Women’s under 17 Coxed Quad
- MU17 2x – Men’s under 17 Double
- CM4+ – Championship men’s Coxed Four
- CW 1x – Championship Women’s Single
- WU 14 4x+ Women’s under 14 Coxed Quad
- WU15 4x+ – Women’s under 15 Coxed Quad
- MU16 2x – Men’s under 16 Double
- WU16 1x – Women’s under 16 Single
- CM 4x+ – Championship men’s Coxed Quad
- CW 2 - – Championship Women’s Pair
- MU14 2x – Men’s under 14 Double
- MU15 2x – Men’s under 15 Double
- WU17 1x – Women’s under 17 Single
- MU17 4x+ – Men’s under 17 Coxed Quad
- WU14 2x – Women’s under 14 Double
- WU15 2x – Women’s under 15 Double
- MU16 1x – Men’s under 16 Single
- CM 8+ – Championship men’s Eight
- WU16 4x+ – Women’s under 16 Coxed Quad
- CW 2x – Championship Women’s Double
- WU14 1x – Women’s under 14 Single
- WU15 1x – Women’s under 15 Single
- MU14 4x+ – Men’s under 14 Coxed Quad
- MU15 4x+ – Men’s under 15 Coxed Quad
- WU17 2x – Women’s under 17 Double
- CM 1x – Championship men’s Single
- CW 8+ – Championship Women’s Eight
- MU16 4x+ – Men’s under 16 Coxed Quad
- WU16 2x – Women’s under 16 Double
- MU17 1x – Men’s under 17 Single
- CM 2- – Championship Men’s Pair
- CW 4x+ – Championship Women’s Coxed Quad
- WIR 4x+ - Women’s Inter-association Coxed Quad
- MIR 4x+ - Men’s Inter-association Coxed Quad
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4.15.3 The Rowing Sub committee
(a) The rowing sub-committee will meet at each NSWCHSSA Championship Regatta.
(b) A quorum for the rowing sub-committee shall be either one half the number of schools competing at the championship regatta or seven, whichever is smaller.
(c) Members of the rowing sub-committee shall be:
(i) The state convener, who shall be chairperson with a casting vote.
(ii) One representative from each school competing at the championship regatta.
(iii) One representative from any non-competing school which has competed at any of the previous two championship regattas.
(iv) A proxy vote may occur if the state convener receives a letter, signed by the principal before the start of the sub-committee meeting.
(d) Duties of the Rowing sub-committee shall be:
(i) To amend the NSWCHSSA Rowing rules. This can be done, where possible, by submitting a ‘Notice of Motion’ to the state convener with the school entries.
Motions passed at the sub-committee meeting shall be forwarded to NSWCHSSA council for final endorsement before they become effective.
(ii) To select the venue for the NSWCHSSA championship two years in advance and propose preferred dates for the championship.
(iii) The host school for the next year shall confirm their willingness to host the next championship. If this confirmation is not received, then the sub-committee shall select a new host for that year.
4.15.4 Rules of entry
(a) A competitor may only compete in one event in one class of boat except that:
(i) A competitor may only compete in one event in each class of boat up to a maximum of three events. The classes of boats are single, double, Coxless Quad sculls (coxed and coxless), pairs, fours, eights. This is in addition to the inter-association quadruple race.
(ii) Under 15 competitors may only compete in sculling events.
(b) Any competitor who enters in more than one event in the same class of boat in contravention of 4.15.4(a) will be drawn in the most senior event.
(c) All crew members including the coxswain must attend the same affiliated secondary school.
(d) All boats must carry lane numbers.
(e) Each competitor pays a levy via DASH. This levy shall remain the same regardless of number of events (max 3) or whether coxswain or rower.
(f) Race entries are via Rowing Manager following the completion of DASH registration. School/Club Rowing Manager or Coach completes entries.
(g) Entries shall close at 2.30pm on Friday at least one week prior to the championship. The state convener will then construct and distribute the draw.
(h) No late entries will be accepted.