Ridley College Rowing

Ridley College Rowing is the school rowing programme of Ridley College in St. Catharines. Row Ontario lists it at 70 Henley Island Drive, and the school’s rowers train on water in the spring and autumn with indoor tank sessions during winter.

Ridley College was founded in 1888. Neil Campbell competed at the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Games and became the school’s head rowing coach in 1967. His Ridley crews won titles at the Canadian Secondary Schools and American Schoolboy championships.

The current programme emphasises early introduction, technical training and smaller boats. Support includes rowing coaches, strength and conditioning, athletic therapy and school medical provision.

Ridley reports 97 gold medals at the Canadian Secondary Schools Rowing Association Championships, 25 victories at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta and five wins in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta.

The school also runs rowing camps and an introduction programme for younger athletes, with on-water and off-water sessions held at Henley Island. Its competitive calendar includes school racing in Canada and the United States as well as Henley Women’s Regatta in England.