Kraken Erg 2025: Rising to the Challenge!

Every year, the Spring rowing season is kicked off by the highly anticipated Kraken Erg competition. The Kraken is more than just a test of strength; it's like climbing Mount Olympus for Brentwood rowers – an ultimate ascent, where only the most determined will reach the top! Moreover, it provides Brentwood athletes with a vital opportunity to test their endurance, improve their personal scores, and compete alongside their peers and other clubs.

Kraken Erg serves as more than just a testing event – it acts as a checkpoint in the rowing calendar, signifying the shift from winter training on land, to the outdoor water races that lie ahead. 

Isabel H, Mackenzie ‘25, echoes the feelings of many as she says “It was great to see the hard work of many individuals pay off at this year's Kraken Erg Competition”. This sentiment reveals the efforts and emotions of athletes, reflecting on their hard winter work, and seeing it materialize into impressive performances at this annual competition.

For Brentwood’s Women's Rowing Captain, Novella R, Hope ‘25, the Kraken Erg has become a symbol of the winter training period itself: “The Kraken serves as the epitome of winter rowing, the few months when the days are short and dark and transition to the ergs, the Kraken serves as a checkpoint and something to look forward to. It is the first regatta of the new year launching us into the spring racing season, with our first on-the-water race lying just a month away!”

Amongst many personal bests and outstanding performances, many Brentwood athletes made the podium at the Kraken Erg. Podium finishes included:

• U17 Light Men’s: 2nd place, Tyler K

• U17 Open Women’s: 1st place, Sierra GG, 2nd place, Anden H

• U17 Light Women’s: 3rd place, Ella M 

• U19 Open Mens: 1st place, William H, 2nd place, Daimon G 

• U19 Open Women’s: 1st place, Novella R, 3rd place, Isabel H 

• U19 Novice Women's: 3rd place, Emelia VA

• U19 Light Women’s: 2nd place, Grace S, 3rd place, Miriam K

• Coxswain Crawl: 1st place, Allston C, 2nd place, Jojo E, 3rd place, & Guy W.

The Kraken Erg Competition also highlights the incredible teamwork and collaboration that goes into making such an event happen. From set-up to tear-down, Brentwood students come together to create a space where athletes can push themselves to achieve their best. 

For Mr Calder, Brentwood’s Head of Rowing, the event is a clear example of what makes the school rowing program special. “The Kraken Erg is a great demonstration of Brentwood students and staff coming together to deliver something special. For the student-rowers, the set-up and tear-down of the venue is a small price to pay to showcase their personal and team gains over the Fall and Winter. For the staff, creating a space for Brentwood students to take huge risks in the pursuit of their goals and aspirations is what gets them up in the morning. The people behind the Kraken, students and staff, define what the Brentwood Standard is,” Mr Calder vibrantly shares.

All the athletes look forward to the spring season, carrying the lessons learned from the Kraken Erg with them. The event not only marked a milestone in their journey but also set the tone for the challenges ahead, reminding them that the road to success is paved with hard work, dedication, and the support of a strong community! 

Grace S, Allard ‘25