Young coxswain Jackson White makes his mark

Jackson White is the only coxswain for Wentworth College and he’s enjoying every minute of it.

At 12 years old he’s already competed in two regattas and is now making his mark at Maadi.

He’s competing in four races, girls U15 coxed quad sculls, boys U15 coxed quad sculls, boys U15 coxed four and boys U18 lightweight coxed four.

“It’s a bit stressful because I’m the only coxswain.”

How does one become a coxswain?

“Initially he was asked,” his mother said.

He’s an only child and was already interested in rowing so he decided to “give it a try”.

“My first two regattas I was a bit scared, because losing a race and all the rowers will yell at me, and that happened in my first regatta,” he said.

He says all this responsibility does not affect his school work.

“Sometimes you miss out on homework and then you don’t get it done, and then teachers blame the coaches because we have to go to training every single day after school.”

Tuesday and Thursday he wakes up at six and starts training at six thirty.

“I might do the coxswain role for one more season after this season and then I might become a rower.”