Head of the River (Australia)
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The Head of the River is a name given to six annual Australian rowing regattas held in New South Wales, Victoria , Queensland , Tasmania , Western Australia and South Australia each year. The regattas feature competing independent schools, and the winner of the 1st division boys (or girls in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia) race is crowned the "Head of the River".
The name Head of the River is taken from similar regattas held in other countries including the Head of the River Race held annually on the Thames in London since 1926.
Contents |
[edit] New South Wales
The Head of the River rowing regatta takes place in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia every March at the Sydney International Regatta Centre (SIRC). From 1936-1995 the races were held on the Nepean River and before that on the Parramatta River. It is the culmination of the GPS (Greater Public Schools) rowing season for senior crews, and has been held since 1893. All eight GPS schools, being Sydney Grammar School, The King's School, Newington College, Sydney Boys High School, The Scots College, St. Joseph's College, St. Ignatius' College and The Shore School, send their crews to the Head of the River.
The race is held over 2000m. It is the last race of the official GPS rowing season, following on from the Riverview Gold Cup held on the Lane Cove River. The Head of The River is one week after other summer sports premierships (such as Cricket and Basketball) have finished. This enables over ten thousand school students and other supporters to attend.
The current (SIRC) record time (and former Junior World Record / World Best time until 2001) for the First VIII is 5:42.6 set by the Shore School (Aaron Marshall-McCormack, Andrew Waite, Alex Koch, Michael Irvine, Nick Smith, Nick White, Evan Sturrock, Joe Marsh, Carter Mullins (cox) Gary Uebergang (Coach)) on March 23, 1996.
[edit] NSW Head of the River Regatta
The regatta consists of ten races.
- The 1st VIII - "Major Rennie Trophy". This race is the actual "Head of the River".
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 |  Shore |
 St. Joseph's College |
 The King's School |
| 2005 | Shore |
St. Joseph's College |
The King's School |
| 2006 | The King's School |
St. Joseph's College |
 St. Ignatius' College |
| 2007 | Shore |
The King's School |
- The 2nd VIII - "L C Robson Memorial Trophy"
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Shore |
St. Joseph's College |
The King's School |
| 2005 | Shore |
St. Joseph's College |
The King's School |
| 2006 | The King's School |
St. Joseph's College |
Shore |
- The 1st IV - "Yaralla Cup"
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Shore |
St. Joseph's College |
The King's School |
| 2005 | The King's School |
St. Joseph's College |
St. Ignatius' College |
| 2006 | The King's School |
St. Joseph's College |
Shore |
- The 2nd IV - "Allan Callaway Trophy"
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Shore |
St. Ignatius' College |
St. Joseph's College |
| 2005 | Shore |
St. Ignatius' College |
St. Joseph's College |
| 2006 | The King's School |
Shore |
St. Joseph's College |
- The 3rd IV - "Father Gartlan Trophy"
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Shore |
St. Joseph's College |
St. Ignatius' College |
| 2005 | St. Joseph's College |
The King's School |
Shore |
| 2006 | St. Ignatius' College |
Shore |
The King's School |
- The 4th IV - "Penrith City Council Cup"
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Shore |
St. Joseph's College |
The King's School |
| 2005 | St. Ignatius' College |
The King's School |
Shore |
| 2006 | Shore |
St. Ignatius' College |
The King's School |
- The 3rd VIII
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Shore |
St. Ignatius' College |
St. Joseph's College |
| 2005 | St. Joseph's College |
The King's School |
St. Ignatius' College |
| 2006 | The King's School |
St. Joseph's College 1 |
St. Joseph's College 2 |
- The 1st Year 10 VIII
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The King's School |
 Sydney Grammar School |
Shore |
| 2005 | The King's School |
Shore |
St. Ignatius' College |
| 2006 | Shore |
The King's School |
 Newington College |
- The 2nd Year 10 VIII
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Sydney Grammar School |
Shore |
The King's School |
| 2005 | Shore |
The King's School |
St. Joseph's College |
| 2006 | Shore |
The King's School |
St. Joseph's College |
- The 3rd Year 10 VIII
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Shore 1 |
Shore 2 |
St. Ignatius' College |
| 2005 | Shore 1 |
The King's School |
Shore 2 |
| 2006 | Shore |
The King's School |
St. Joseph's College |
In 2001, the last four races were added to the regatta. These are held before the IVs and the 2nd and 1st VIII race.
[edit] Queensland
In 2007, Brisbane Grammar School took out the pretegious 1st place in the 1st VIII division. Grammar won by one and a half boat lengths to Gregory Terrace and The Southport School finished in third.
[edit] Victoria
The Victorian race is contested between the 11 Associated Public Schools of Victoria (APS).
The race is usually the last race of the official APS rowing season and has recently been rowed on Lake Nagambie which is a full bouyed international standard course allowing six boat finals.
[edit] History
In 1868, John C. Field, on behalf of Mr Morrison's pupils at Scotch College, challenged Dr Bromby's pupils at Melbourne Grammar School to a "friendly four oar gig race to be rowed from the Botanical Bridge to Edward's Boathouse (Princes Bridge)". On the 18th June Scotch won the race and since then the "Head of the River" race, as it is now known, has been contested every year. The race was first rowed on the Barwon in 1879 and then every fifth or sixth year until 1916. Between 1921-1943 the Barwon saw it every fourth year and since 1948 the only use of the Yarra was in 1957 when Geelong College won. During World War 2 the Geelong Schools rowed a heat on the Barwon and the four Melbourne Schools rowed heats on the Yarra. These races were held after school, the winners met on the Yarra to decide the title except in 1943 when restrictions on travel were in force. From 1868 to 1897 racing was in fixed seat, four oared gigs, from 1889 to 1900 in sliding seat single streak outrigged fours and from 1901 to 1918 in sliding seat clinker built eights. Shells have been used since.
Scotch College has been represented every year, gradually other schools have joined in, the most recent being Haileybury College who entered the Boys First Eight event for the first time in 1991.
The first cup for competition was presented in 1875 by the Hon. TJ Sumner, to become the property of the school which should first win it three times. Scotch College won it in 1875, 1876 and 1879 and have retained it since that date.
In 1911 Mr C Fairbairn presented the Challenge Cup and the winners of this handsome trophy and previous "Winners of the Race", as it was known then, are listed in this programme.
The Head of the River races have weathered such difficulties as flooded rivers, disputes over ages, dead heats, disqualifications, and even the inability of a school to round up enough rowers to boat a crew.
Before World War 2, only the first crew of each school took part in the Head of the River Regatta, but there was a race for second crews and sometimes third crews raced on the Saturday prior to the Head of the River race.
In the early part of the century the race was held in October, but later it was moved to May and after World War 2 to April. When the race was in October it was possible for a boy to represent his school in Football, Cricket, Rowing and Athletics in the one year, as the latter were held in May after the Cricket season had ended.
The first girl to row within the A.P.S. was a lone sculler from Geelong Grammar School in 1972. By 1975 there were 32 girls rowing and talk of girls competing at the Senior Regatta which, in fact, happened in 1981 when Geelong Grammar and Geelong College competed with MCEGGS, Morongo and Lauriston in 1st and 2nd Fours over 800m on the Friday. MLC and Carey joined the racing in 1982, with Carey boating a First Four in 1983. In 1984 there were seven girls' crews rowing in each of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Four events but in the next year the regatta reverted to an all A.P.S. affair with only GGS and GC boating a First Four. In 1986 Carey reappeared in the First Fours and Wesley joined, so finally, with Caulfield joining in 1987, all five co-educational schools were boating a first four over 1500m. Many of those who have competed have gone on to National and International success. In 1995 fourth and fifth girls' crews were introduced, racing over 1000m in regulation fours and in 1999 Year 1 Fours competed. Girls first eights (1998), second eights (1999) and third eights (2002) have replaced the open fours in the last few years.
The schools take part in a number of R.V. Regattas, including those at Ballarat, Geelong, Footscray, Nagambie, Carrum and Melbourne while the Junior Crews compete in R.V. and A.P.S. School Regattas. The girls regularly compete at the Head of the Schoolgirls whilst many crews compete, when practical, for both State and National titles.
[edit] VIC Head of the River Regatta
- The 1st VIII - the "Fairbairn Cup". This race is the actual "Head of the River".
[edit] VIC Head of the Schoolgirls Regatta
1984 was the final year school girls participated in the APS Head of the River. The Principal of Morongo Girls’ School initiated a meeting that establishes the Head of School Girls’ Regatta. The first HOSG was held in 1987 at Ballarat with 7 events, 16 schools and 240 competitors. In 1987, the event moved to Geelong. In 1991, the HOSG Regatta Committee became an incorporated association.
| Year | First Four Winner | Senior Eight From 2000 known as Eight Div 1 |
Quad Scull |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 |  MLC |
||
| 1986 |  Geelong Grammar |
||
| 1987 |  Wesley College |
||
| 1988 | Geelong Grammar |
||
| 1989 | Morongo | ||
| 1990 | Geelong Grammar |
Wesley College |
|
| 1991 | Geelong Grammar |
MLC |
|
| 1992 |  Geelong College |
 Genazzano |
|
| 1993 |  Lauriston |
Lauriston |
Genazzano |
| 1994 | Lauriston |
Geelong Grammar |
Genazzano |
| 1995 | Lauriston |
Geelong Grammar |
Genazzano |
| 1996 | Geelong Grammar |
Geelong Grammar |
MLC |
| 1997 | Geelong Grammar |
Geelong Grammar |
MLC |
| 1998 | Lauriston |
Geelong Grammar |
MLC |
| 1999 | MLC |
Geelong Grammar |
Genazzano |
| 2000 | Lauriston |
Geelong Grammar |
 Sacred Heart |
| 2001 | Ballarat Grammar | Geelong Grammar |
Sacred Heart |
| 2002 | Ballarat Grammar | Geelong College |
MLC |
| 2003 | Ballarat Grammar | Geelong College |
 Loreto Toorak |
| 2004 | Ballarat Grammar | Geelong College |
 Firbank |
| 2005 | Ballarat Grammar | MLC |
Sacred Heart |
| 2006 | Ballarat Grammar | MLC |
Firbank |
[edit] Western Australia
The Perth race held in late summer/early autumn is contested between the seven Public Schools Association boys schools: Aquinas College, Christ Church Grammar School, Guildford Grammar School, Hale School, Scotch College, Trinity College, and Wesley College. In the winter several private Perth girls schools race for the title.
The regatta consists of many races with points contributing to the Hamer Cup, and in the final race of the day, the 1st VIII crews from each school compete for the Head of the River trophy. The race is run on the Canning River, near Western Australian Institute of Sport's rowing shed.
In 2006, the Head of the River race was won by Christ Church, with Trinity College coming second. Christ Church set a new record of 5:57.8, the first crew to race under 6 minutes, after having been undefeated all season. Trinity College also went under 6 minutes. Aquinas College came in third beating the Aquinas course record.
The 2007 winners of the Head of the River were Trinity College, with Wesley second, Scotch third, and Aquinas fourth.
[edit] Tasmania
The Tasmanian Head Of The River is currently held at the Lake Barrington Rowing Course. Held over the full championship distance, the schools associated with SATIS (Sports Association of Tasmanian Independent Schools) from both the north and south of the state compete for the 'holy grail' of Tasmanian schools rowing. The Hutchins School, Launceston Church Grammar, The Friends School, Guilford Young College, Scotch Oakburn College and St Patrick's College all compete in the boys race, while St Michael's Collegiate School, The Friends School, Scotch Oakburn College, St. Patrick's College and Launceston Church Grammar all compete for the girls trophy.
The Head Of The River regatta is often held the Saturday before Easter. However, in 2006 the Head Of The River was postponed for the first time in its Tasmanian History with a limited regatta program being amalgamated in to the Tasmanian Masters Regatta. This was able to cater for the main races with Hutchins taking out the boys Head Of The River trophy and St Michael's Collegiate School the girls.
The Hutchins School has won the last four Head Of The Rivers (2003-2006) while Launceston Church Grammar won the Head Of The River trophy for the girls (2005), claiming it off The Friends School who had held it for four years. A major part of the day is the juniors regatta that takes place, often seen as the most prestigious races to win.
[edit] South Australia
The South Australian Head of the River is currently held at West Lakes. The regatta involves junior coxed quadruple sculling events over 1,000m and 1,500m as well as senior coxed four and eight races over 2,000m. The South Australian Head of the River is held on the 2nd to last Saturday of the 1st school term of each year.
Competing schools are drawn from the traditional independent schools and an increasing number of state schools. Since the 1970's the number of girls competing in the regatta has increased significantly. Seymour College recently gained entry to the regatta. Annesley College is seeking admission for the 2007 Head of the River.
Until 2005 the Head of the River was known as the Public Schools' Regatta. The name has since been changed by the committee of Headmasters/Principals of the Head of the River Schools. The regatta is now known as the Schools Regatta.
[edit] References
[edit] External Links
- Brighton Grammar School
- Carey Baptist Grammar School
- Caulfield Grammar School
- Geelong Grammar School
- Haileybury College
- Melbourne Grammar School
- Scotch College
- St Kevin's College
- The Geelong College
- Wesley College
- Xavier College
